Horrified Southwark residents recall screams in early hours before crossbow intruder shot by police - latest
Man shot after forcing his way into building and threatening to hurt occupants
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A man armed with a crossbow has been shot dead by armed police after trying to force his way into a building in south-east London, police have said.
Neighbours heard “bangs and screaming” as police descended on the quiet estate during the early hours of the morning, with one young girl telling her father: “Papa, I heard someone get shot.”
The Metropolitan Police said the man, who was in his 30s, was attempting to gain access to a building in Bywater Place, Surrey Quays, shortly before 5am on Tuesday and was threatening to hurt the people inside.
Unarmed officers tried to speak to him but were threatened, and when police marksmen arrived he had got into the building and was shot.
He was given first aid but died at the scene, while two occupants in the building received minor injuries.
Police are currently trying to contact his family and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation.
Local resident woke up to the sound of gunshots
Another neighbour said: “I heard ‘bang, bang’ it must have been the gunshots. I looked at the clock it was just before 5am. Then I could hear police radios crackling.
“I looked out his head was covered and his torso but I could see his arms hanging out the side. It was horrible. I couldn’t see any weapons or crossbow.
“The police were really struggling to put up the tent around him. I didn’t want my son to see.”
She added: “It’s a really quiet area usually with families everyone knows eachother it’s a lovely community. But in this house people come and go. I think it’s a multiple occupancy.”
Neighbour heard a woman screaming for help
Valeria Bocanegra told the Independent that she heard a woman screaming for help before police arrived.
She said: “It was 4.56am. I heard two people screaming a woman and a man yelling at the top of the lungs.
“I heard everything I thought ‘what is happening?’ Then it went quiet and they shut up.”
Statement from London Ambulance Service
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: “We were called today at 5:03am to reports of an incident on Bywater Place, Surrey Quays.
“We sent some resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew and an incident response officer.
“We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance, which consisted of a trauma team by car. We treated three people at the scene, two of whom had minor injuries.
“The third patient was pronounced dead at the scene.”
White tent and cordon remains at crime scene
Forensics officers can be seen working next to a white tent which had been set up behind a police cordon.
Police tape, guarded by uniformed officers, blocked the winding roads around the inner city south-east London scene which is surrounded by residential flats and terraced houses.
Uniformed officers could also be seen patrolling the area.
Neighbour suspected a terror attack as armed police descended on quiet street
A neighbour told the Independent: “My daughter was awake said ‘Papa I heard someone get shot. There were gunshots.’
“I thought it could be a teror attack if he was shot. I have lived here for five years and I’ve never heard anyone get shot or even shout.
“It’s mostly families and young professionals here. It is shocking for us in our area, where will be next?”
Forensics are taking pictures of the front door of a home believed to be rented to multiple people.
Young girl told her father ‘Papa I heard someone get shot'
Neighbours heard a man frantically banging on a door and shouting before police arrived at the scene.
One young girl told her father “Papa I heard someone get shot.”
The 53-year-old told the Independent: “I heard a man slamming on a door it woke me up. It was like he was trying to force his way in.
“Then the police car arrived with sirens. It was about 5am I didn’t think it was party time or anything. I couldn’t hear what he was shouting but he was trying to get in.”
Where did the shooting take place?
The incident took place shortly before 5am in Bywater Place in south-east London.
More pictures from the scene
Sadiq Khan says ‘thoughts are with everyone impacted’
The Mayor of London has said it is “right” for the IOPC to fully investigate the circumstances as he offers his sympathies to those affected.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sadiq Khan said: “My thoughts are with everyone impacted by this incident. It’s right that the independent IOPC will now investigate the full circumstances. I urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Fatal police shootings relatively rare in UK
Fatal police shootings are relatively rare in the UK – there were only three in the year to March 31 2023.
The most recent Met fatality was the death of Giedrius Vasiljevas, 40, who was shot at his home in Dagenham, east London, in November after calling 999 to say he had loaded guns and wanted to take his own life.