A2 Chaos as Man Threatens Suicide on Footbridge
Traffic on the A2 has ground to a halt after a man climbed onto a footbridge and slashed his wrists just after midnight on Monday. Met Police officers shut down both directions of the busy road fearing for the soldier’s safety.
Man on Footbridge Sparks Major Traffic Jam
The drama unfolded near Buckingham Avenue in Sidcup, where the distressed man is said to have admitted he intends to take his own life. Traffic has been stuck for over three hours as specialist negotiators try to talk him down.
Eyewitnesses report the man standing on the wrong side of the railings while officers calmly persuade him to come down. Police are using an on-slip to turn vehicles around and ease the huge backlog on both sides of the dual carriageway.
Police Close A2 Over Safety Fears
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact reason for the full closure, but it is believed to be due to the threat posed by the man on the bridge and to protect drivers below. Alongside this, police are involved in a separate pursuit of a stolen motorbike from Kent, with the help of the NPAS helicopter.
Official Police Statement
A Met Police spokesperson at the scene said: “The A2 is currently closed in both directions after we received concerns for the welfare of a man. The situation is being dealt with by specially trained officers and the road closures will remain in place. We ask motorists to avoid the area and will provide updates as soon as possible.”
Emergency services on site include multiple police units, paramedics, an ambulance, and two HART crews from London Ambulance Service. The A2 has been closed since around midnight, causing widespread disruption for commuters.
