Armed police lay siege to building in Central London

(27 Apr 2012) 1. Pan of white police van and unmarked police cars driving past crowd of bystanders, AUDIO: sirens
2. Mid of masked and armed officers from Metropolitan Police Specialist Firearms Command branch CO19
3. Various of group of specialist police outside building
4. Masked and armed officers carrying ballistic shield and walking away
5. Wide of London ambulance personnel on cordoned-off street, red buses parked on side
6. Mid of London ambulance personnel
7. Mid of armed police officer
8. Wide of police officers on cordoned-off street
9. Tilt down from BT Tower to cordoned-off street
STORYLINE:
A busy section of central London was shut down on Friday after armed police laid siege to a building - purportedly after a man in it took people hostage.
An eyewitness claimed that the man burst into the office of a training company saying he was ready to blow himself up.
The three-hour siege saw the closure of Tottenham Court Road - which runs north from the bustling shops of Oxford Street - and nearby Underground railway stations.
Heavily armed members from the Metropolitan Police specialist firearms command, known as CO19, surrounded the building.
Several officers carried ballistic shields.
The Metropolitan Police later said the suspect at the centre of the siege was arrested.
A shirtless man in green khaki pants was reportedly seen being led out with his hands behind his back by two unarmed officers.
Armed officers followed behind.
Police said the 49-year-old man was in police custody and that searches of the building were ongoing.
British media had claimed that the man was holding people captive, but police said they were "not aware of any hostages at this stage".

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