Residents who were evacuated from a block of flats in Sheffield still have not been able to go home as police negotiate with a man who reportedly has weapons.
People living at the Gateway building in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, were evacuated to the nearby Ponds Forge International Sports centre at around 7.20pm last night.
A video appears to show police gathered on a balcony on the eighth floor of the nine-storey Gateway building.
A white blanket hangs out of a window from the top floor of the block, where one-bed flats have been advertised for rent at nearly £900 per month.
People living in surrounding buildings have been asked to stay indoors as police carry out their work inside a massive police cordon which has closed a section of the city’s main ring road.
Due to the 300-metre stretch of the city’s major ring road being closed, residents had to walk two miles to get to their evacuation centre – which would normally have only been a 10-minute trip.
One couple, a man and a woman who live on the sixth floor of the building, are still in their pyjamas after they were evacuated to the nearby Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.
The man said: ‘The neighbours have told me that he knocked on their door and told them he was going to go crazy.
Armed police are seen outside the Gateway building in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday evening
Police were seen surrounding the building with weapons and shields as the standoff continued
The standoff was continuing on Tuesday evening – 24 hours after police swooped on the building
A video appears to show police gathered on a balcony on the eighth floor of the nine-storey Gateway building
People living in surrounding buildings have been asked to stay indoors as police carry out their work inside a massive police cordon which has closed a section of the city’s main ring road
One resident said: ‘We only have the clothes that we left in’
‘He tried throwing his TV, kindle and furniture off the balcony. He was trying to burn stuff, they rang the police.
‘We stayed in the car for a few hours and then came to the sports centre. We got moved to a sports hall inside where it’s a bit warmer.
‘The police aren’t telling us anything, they don’t know when we can go back.
‘I’ve got my driving lesson in the morning and my licence is in there. We only have the clothes that we left in.’
Officers were called at around 7pm on Monday to a building in Broad Street, which led to nearby properties being evacuated.
One man who said he lives directly under the flat where police are reportedly negotiating: ‘It was around 7pm and my girlfriend said she heard a loud bang.
‘Then I heard another bang like someone was messing around on a balcony.
‘Then, at 7:20pm, police came banging on the door really loudly. They told us we had to get out.’
Rosie Sharpley, 22, a Gateway resident, told MailOnline this morning: ‘The first I heard of the incident was at 8.30pm last night.
‘I was cooking dinner when the police started banging at the door and told us to leave. It was unreal, like a movie.
‘I grabbed my raincoat and was wearing crocs so got soaking wet from the rain.
‘I went to the gym at about 7pm the same evening and saw one police car but didn’t think anything of it.
‘We had to stand outside for a while before we were taken to Ponds Forge. There were a lot of us there, roughly 40 to 50 but it’s hard to tell.
‘I slept on my friend’s sofa last night and left this morning hoping I could go back to the flat. But now I’m back at Ponds Forge because the whole area is cordoned off.
‘It’s radio silence and they won’t tell us anything. It’s a nightmare and we are stuck in limbo.
‘We were given hygiene packs this morning with towels and although we are allowed to leave there isn’t anywhere we can go.’
Due to the 300-metre stretch of the city’s major ring road being closed, residents had to walk two miles to get to their evacuation centre – which would normally have only been a 10-minute trip
People were evacuated from a Sheffield apartment building overnight amid concerns over a man alleged to have weapons
South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called to the property after 7pm on Monday with reports a man inside had weapons
Police and other emergency services remained on the scene in Broad Street early this morning
One woman who works at Ponds Forge said she struggled to get into work this morning and that some people had even abandoned their cars.
Earlier this morning, the woman saw a white sheet sticking outside the window of the Gateway block of flats, which remains evacuated since last night as police negotiate with a man inside who reportedly has weapons.
Speaking outside the centre, the woman said: ‘I saw a sheet at 8am and there’s been police officers at another balcony.
‘There’s been police officers in the South Yorkshire authority building as there is a good view.’
South Yorkshire Police posted an update on social media this afternoon saying emergency services were still on the scene and the road closures on the Sheffield Parkway between Park Square and Derek Dooley Way remained in place.
The force said: ‘Last night just after 7pm we responded to concerns for a man inside a property on Broad Street.
‘The man is alleged to be in possession of weapons and pose a risk to himself.’
Police said people should continue to avoid the area.
The statement added: ‘We understand the disruption and impact this incident is having on our communities, those affected by the evacuation, roads closures and those concerned for loved ones in the area.
‘Our aim is to bring the incident to a close safely and get everyone and their families back to their homes as soon as possible.’
