Lincoln university students locked in library as armed police storm campus

A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with a burglary in Nottinghamshire where a man was assaulted with a pickaxe

Students were locked in a library as armed police stormed the University of Lincoln campus.

Some students were told to move out of the way, and others were locked inside buildings, while armed officers arrested a 25-year-old man this morning near the university's library.

Lincolnshire Police has apologised for “any alarm caused” by the arrest - which was in connection with a burglary where a man was assaulted with a pickaxe.

One student, who only gave her name as Emma, told the BBC she had been walking to the library with a friend when she saw 10 police cars. She said she had “never been so scared”.

She added: “We saw all these armed police and a police dog running about and then these university people in Lincoln uniform told me and my friends to run away.”

Around midday, Lincolnshire Police tweeted: “We have arrested one man, aged 25, near to the Engine Shed, Lincoln this morning, on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police.

“We have had a lot of resources in the area and this has caused some alarm. Apologies for this.”

The force added that reports that the man was seen with a handgun were “incorrect".

Nottinghamshire Police have said that the 25-year-old was detained in connection with a burglary where offenders wearing face coverings forced their way into a house in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, last week.

One of them hit the victim in the head with the pickaxe and it is believed another was armed with a shotgun during the burglary.

Simon Parkes, the deputy vice chancellor at the University of Lincoln, said: “I was so impressed by University of Lincoln staff and students. As the incident happened the library staff kept students in the library to allow police to complete their arrest, which was absolutely the right thing to do.

“I am grateful for their quick thinking. I understand that a few students were in the area at the time and were asked by the police to move out of the way.

“Lincoln is a safe and quiet city which makes instances like this all the more unusual."

He added: “The presence of armed police was due to a joint operation by Lincolnshire Police and Nottinghamshire Police which led to this arrest.

“I am proud of colleagues and students and thank them for their calm and sensible reaction to the incident, which has enabled us to get back to normal on campus immediately.”

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police added: “The arrest took place as the man was seen to be walking through the university grounds, he is not a student.

“We have seen reports of students being asked to leave the area and stay indoors in buildings. This is not unusual during policing operations and thank those involved for their patience."