Armed police at stand-off after man seen with knife

Armed police have been called to a stand-off in a flat above some shops in south-east London.

Pictures posted on social media showed a man brandishing a knife outside a third-floor window above shops in Lewisham High Street.

The Met Police said officers were “working to find out” whether anyone else was inside the property.

Lewisham High Street on the A20 remains closed while emergency services are at the scene.

A food retailer at Lewisham Market, who did not want to be named, said it had been going on since late morning.

“It’s a waiting game.

“He’s hiding himself around the corner because he knows they’re pointing guns at him. At first nobody knew what was going on.

“They keep moving the police cordon back,” she added.

A branch of HSBC opposite closed as a precaution, and the bank said no customers or staff were involved.

The Met Police said officers were called to a disturbance at around 10:45 GMT.

A passer-by, Callum Fahim, said he saw a man leaning out of a third-floor window waving a large knife around.

“There are two armed police officers with a gun aimed at him, and they’ve been like that for a long time now.

“I can’t see any signs of any negotiations or anything taking place. There’s fire engines, police and ambulance.

“And now some police horses have turned up.”