Christchurch residents wake to the sound of explosions as armed police swarm a quiet street

Residents living on a quiet street in Christchurch have been woken to the sound of explosions and armed police swarming the area – less than two weeks after a horrific terrorist attack shattered the city.

Poulton Avenue in Richmond, in the city’s north-east, was in lockdown for four hours on Wednesday morning as police have told residents to stay inside their homes.

Police officers pulled a man out of a silver Mitsubishi Pajero SUV on the street and the vehicle’s driver’s-side window, rear driver’s side window and rear window had been smashed.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police are investigating if the incident has any link to the shootings on March 15 that left 50 people dead. 

Police officers found firearms at a home in nearby St Martins on Tuesday during a search, and later found a 54-year-old man inside the car about 12.30am on Wednesday.

‘The police negotiation team spoke with the man over a number of hours. The police helicopter and Armed Offenders Squad were in support during the negotiations,’ Mr Bush said.

‘At around 3.40am police approached the vehicle and discovered the man critically injured with what appeared to be a stab wound. A knife was located in the vehicle.

‘Immediate first aid was provided however the man was pronounced dead at the scene.’

The man’s car was checked by the bomb squad as a precaution but it was deemed to be safe.

No guns were found in the car, Mr Bush said.

‘Members of the public who heard what they thought were explosions were hearing police deploying gas at the scene,’ he said. 

‘A high priority investigation is underway to determine whether or not the deceased man posed a threat to the community. This will include further searches of Christchurch properties and interviews with family and associates.

‘At this time there is no evidence to suggest this person had any involvement in the attacks of 15 March, however this forms an important part of the investigation.’

Poulton Avenue resident Joanna Qereqeretabua said she woke up at 3.30am and heard someone shouting ‘get out of the car’ and ‘police, police’.

She said there were armed police and dogs on the street, and a robot approached the vehicle about 4am and shattered the windows.

‘It was very scary after what happened here,’ she said, referring to the massacre of 50 people inside two mosques in Christchurch on March 15.

Ms Qereqeretabua said she heard loud noises early on Wednesday morning but she did not think they were gun shots.

She said she could hear a man begging for help.

Police officers pulled a man out of a silver Mitsubishi Pajero SUV on the street (pictured) and the vehicle’s driver’s-side window, rear driver’s side window and rear window had been smashed

Jeffrey Chisholm, who also lives on Poulton Avenue, said he heard two shots being fired – one at 3.30am, and the other about 4.45am.

‘They were quite loud, I am not sure where they were though as I was in bed,’ he said. 

Mr Chisholm said he could hear a helicopter outside, and ventured out before being told by members of the armed offenders squad to stay inside his house. 

He said police called him about 4.30am and told him to stay inside.

Another neighbour said Christchurch residents were on high alert after the shootings earlier this month.

‘You don’t expect anything like this, especially after what happened the other day,’ he said. 

In February, a 33-year-old man crouched behind a car and shot at police in Richmond before he was shot twice.