Armed police evacuate Tesco supermarket after suspected gunman is spotted on the store’s roof
- Armed police raced to a Shrewsbury Tesco Extra at 4pm today following an alert
- Witnesses said they saw a man brandishing a gun on the roof of a petrol station
- A police helicopter hovered over the supermarket looking for the armed suspect
Armed police have sealed off a Tesco store after receiving reports that a man with a gun was spotted on the roof.
Officers raced to the scene of the Tesco Extra supermarket in Shrewsbury around 4pm after the man was spotted on the roof of the store’s petrol station.
Witness said dozens of police secured the scene after receiving the emergency call.
Armed police have secured a Tesco Extra supermarket in Shrewsbury after receiving reports of a gunman who was spotted on the roof of the store’s petrol station
According to West Mercia police, officers, including firearms units and the police helicopter attended the scene and cordoned off the area.
Superintendent Jim Baker said: ‘Due to the nature of the report we have received it is important we respond accordingly to ensure there is no risk to the wider public and as such armed officers have been deployed and are carrying out a search of the area.
‘I know this will cause some disruption to local residents and would like to thank them for their patience and understanding while we deal with this incident and ensure there is no risk to the wider public.’
Superintendent Jim Baker said a full search is being carried out of the area. He apologised to shoppers that the shop on Whitechurch Road, Battlefield, Shropshire would remain closed until the alert was lifted
While no-one was found on the roof, police have said the call was ‘made in good faith’.
In a statement released shortly before 10pm last night, a West Mercia Police spokesperson said: ‘A challenging search environment for the team this evening in Shrewsbury.
‘It took a while but we had to be thorough. Sorry for the delays.’