A man has been taken to hospital after being shot by police in South East London this afternoon (Friday, August 5). Armed officers and an air ambulance have arrived on the scene.
At 2.30pm, armed police responded to multiple reports of a man with a gun in Greenwich. The man was shot by police after the incident.
The man was airlifted to a major trauma centre. An update on his condition is expected.
Residents are being advised to avoid Creek Road between Greenwich town centre and Deptford while emergency services are on the scene. Photos show that the incident is centred in Greenwich, near Greenwich Market.
Police initially described the incident as “serious,” but provided no further details.
Greenwich West Police issued the following statement: “On Creek Road between Greenwich Town Centre and Deptford, there was a serious accident. The road is closed. Please stay away from the area. More information will be provided later.”
Social media videos and photos showed the air ambulance landing on the scene. Another video shows territorial support group police vans at the scene.
Creek Road remains closed in both directions, causing traffic to divert to Greenwich High Road and through Deptford. The A2 Blackheath Hill is also clogged.
Nursery workers are being forced to lock the doors in order to protect the children.
A Maritime Minis nursery employee told MyLondon that after learning of the shooting, they locked the nursery’s doors to protect the children:
We were not permitted to take the children outside. We had no idea what was going on and had only heard there was a gun when the chef told us to lock the doors.
‘Not terror-related incident
According to the BBC, police have confirmed that the incident is not terror-related and that there is no “ongoing threat to the wider public.” However, the public has been advised to avoid the area while police conduct an investigation.
A man shot by police is in good condition.
The man who was shot has survived and is in stable condition, according to the Met Police.
According to a police spokesperson:
The London Ambulance Service and the air ambulance were dispatched. The man was treated on the spot before being transported to the hospital. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Locals who heard a ‘faint pop’ are afraid to leave their homes after 9 a.m.
I only heard the gunshot at around 2.02pm. My daughter then said, ‘Dad, there are cops everywhere.’ We witnessed the air ambulance land at the Laban Dance School. The gunshot was barely audible. It was, in fact, on the bridge. I didn’t see anything, but you can’t leave your house after 9 p.m. on this estate.
