'Bomb threat' man shot with baton round

A man claiming to have an explosive device in a rucksack was shot by police in a city centre, officers said today.

The 43-year-old man was arrested and taken to hospital with minor injuries after being hit with a baton round.

Hundreds of people in bars and riverside flats in York were evacuated after police were called to the incident at 9pm last night.

Officers cordoned off a 300-metre radius around the Ouse Bridge, where the man stood with his rucksack.

The city centre from Micklegate to Parliament Street was closed off to traffic and pedestrians.

Police negotiators attended the scene along with fire and ambulance crews.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "At around 11.55pm, the incident was brought to a safe conclusion when armed police officers deployed a baton round.

"A police dog was also deployed to contain the suspect.

"The 43-year-old man, believed to be currently living in York, was then arrested and taken to York District Hospital where he received treatment to minor injuries sustained during the incident."

Bomb disposal experts from Catterick Garrison later carried out a controlled explosion on the rucksack on the bridge.

The roads were later re-opened to the public but forensic officers remained at the scene to examine the contents of the bag.