A major road linked to the M5 in Somerset has been shut today with witnesses claiming they heard gunfire and saw a man dragged out of a car window.
The A369 known as the The Portbury Hundred near Portishead is closed off near the junction with the Gordano motorway services because of a police incident.
Avon and Somerset Police say the road linked to junction 19 of the M5 will be shut for the foreseeable future and an air ambulance has landed on the carriageway.
They would not give any information about the operation, but it appears to be a deliberate ‘hard stop’ by officers rather than a crash.
Reports on Facebook said the road was swamped by police and loud bangs like gunfire were heard.
Mark De Lancey said: ‘I got up on the roundabout as the police were smashing the guys window and dragging him out. God knows what was happening.’
Kerrie Rees wrote: ‘I heard something like firecrackers about 45 minutes ago. I did wonder if it was gun fire but though surely not in Portishead.’
Avon and Somerset Police said they ‘anticipate the road will remain closed for some time’.
A spokesman said; ‘We have closed off the Portbury 100 – A369 – following an incident earlier this morning.
‘The Air Ambulance has landed. Motorists will not be able to access Portishead from J19 of the M5’.