Chatham: Armed police at Kent shopping outlet after witnesses report 'man with gun on balcony'

Man with 'suspected imitation firearms' arrested after firing into the air

Footage taken near the Dockside Shopping Outlet of a man on a balcony

A man has been arrested after allegedly firing imitation guns off a balcony near a shopping centre Kent.

Armed police were deployed to the Dockshide Shopping Centre in Chatham on Wednesday morning, as nearby roads were shut down.

Video footage showed a man sat on the top floor of a flat block with what a witness likened to a "machine gun, a handgun and a rifle".

Another clip taken by a resident showed what they believed to be gunshots.

The suspect filmed himself firing what police believe are imitation weapons repeatedly into the air, while shouting for people to call the police.

In videos posted on social media, he showed several guns on a bed and talked about killed rapper Tupac Shakur.

There have been no reports of injuries.

Roads around the Dockside Shopping Outlet, in Chatham, were closed off during the incident.

Kent Police said officers were called at 8.35am on "to a disturbance at a flat" in Dock Head Road, Chatham.

"Members of the public reported seeing a man on a balcony with weapons and patrols, including armed officers, attended the scene," a spokesperson added.

"The police helicopter was also deployed and a man in 30s has now been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. Patrols remain at the scene, where officers have located four suspected imitation firearms as part of their enquiries."