Waterloo siege ends as cops detain man for ‘threatening police and firefighters with gun’

A MAN has been detained after being involved in a standoff with police, claiming he was armed with a gun.

Officers had rushed to the Windmill Walk homes in Waterloo after a balcony collapsed this morning when the man began to make threats, telling police he had a gun.

Authorities are now investigating whether or not the man was involved in the initial incident that caused the balcony to slip.

Around 30 people were being evacuated from the building by fire fighters when the man started issuing threats, saying he was armed with a gun.

The stand off has since ended with the man detained.

No charges have been laid.

Neighbours were left terrified that the man had a gun or even hand grenade, with one resident Susan Young saying: "The area is all cordoned off. There are armed police all over the place. It's a bit scary."

She told South London Press: "Then we were told he had a hand grenade. It is obviously someone quite desperate.

In a statement, Met Police said: "Local police officers were in attendance at a block of flats in Windmill Walk, where they were assisting the London Fire Brigade with a collapsed balcony.

"Whilst at the location officers were threatened by a man who imitated he was in possession of a firearm. At this stage a firearm has not been seen.

"Officers retreated and armed officers have been deployed to the location, where they currently remain."

There are no reported injuries and no shots have been fired.

Authorities were called to the scene about 9.30am on Friday.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said that firefighters had been called to the Windmill Walk flats in Waterloo.

They said: "Firefighters were called to a block of flats on Windmill Walk in Waterloo after a concrete balcony on the third floor of the building collapsed onto floors below.

"Approximately 20 to 30 people were evacuated from flats within the block and set up a safety cordon as a precaution.

"Nobody was injured by the collapsed balcony."

A Lambeth Council spokesman said: "We are responding by supporting emergency services who are dealing with this incident.

"We have dispatched a dangerous structures engineer to the scene."

Two engines and a rescue unit, with specialist equipment, and were called to the balcony which was collapsing and in a precarious position at 9.28am.