Armed Police Descend on Chichester in Early Hours
Armed officers from across Sussex swarmed Chichester city centre in the early hours of Friday, sparking a major police operation.
City Centre Locked Down Near Cross Monument
Close to the iconic Cross Monument, police cordoned off the area while armed officers dealt with a tense incident. Multiple police vehicles were spotted lining West Street as the drama unfolded.
Specialist Paramedics Called to the Scene
The HART team – Hazardous Area Response Team paramedics trained for risky situations – were also dispatched by the South East Coast Ambulance Service to support Sussex Police.
Man Arrested After Knife Incident
Police advised the public to steer clear of the cordoned zone and reassured everyone the situation was contained with no danger to the public.
“The incident was contained and there was no danger to the general public, but police have thanked people for heeding requests to stay away from the area and apologised to the local community for the disruption caused as they dealt with the man,” a spokesperson confirmed.
The ordeal ended safely around 1:20am when officers arrested a 45-year-old local man on suspicion of affray and possession of a knife in a public place. He was medically checked before being held in custody as of 8:50am on Friday.
