Armed police surround Sheffield flats with residents evacuated

Residents have been evacuated from their homes after armed police were called to reports of a man with suspected weapons inside a property.

Officers were called to the Gateway apartment building on Broad Street in Sheffield at about 19:00 GMT on Monday, South Yorkshire Police said.

Some residents took refuge at the Ponds Forge sports centre, with university students staying at the nearby Pinnacles accommodation building told to stay inside their flats.

A force spokesperson said police and other emergency services remained at the scene with the road closed.

In a social media update the force said: “Those within the building where the property is have been evacuated and those within the neighbouring buildings have been asked to stay indoors while officers conduct their work.”

Police said Sheffield Parkway, between Park Square roundabout and Derek Dooley Way, would remain shut with motorists advised to find an alternative route.

They said trams were also affected in the area.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.