Video footage reveals the shocking moment armed police arrest a man on suspicion of having a fake firearm outside a health centre in Oxford.
Armed police were called to Manzil Way after reports of a suspicious person near the East Oxford Health Centre this afternoon (Friday, April 5) at around 2pm.
The footage shows the 37-year-old man from Oxford being arrested by an officer with armed police following alongside a police dog.
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Pictures also show police taping off the entrance to the health centre which is based on the street just off Cowley Road.
The man remains in police custody, Thames Valley Police have confirmed.
Inspector Jamie Cuthbertson said: “I would like to reassure the public that this appears to be an isolated incident.
“We are undertaking a number of enquiries and reassurance patrols, so members of the public will see an increased police presence in the area.
“We are appealing for anyone who may have seen this incident or who has dash-cam, doorbell or phone footage from the area around the time that it happened, to please get in touch.
“You can contact us by making a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference 43240155624.
“Alternatively, for 100 per cent anonymity, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A patient at the nearby East Oxford Health Centre, Alexandra, who did not want to give her surname, told the Oxford Mail there were "a lot of police with dogs".
She said: "You don't know what is going on so it's scary but I guess it's safe when there are police."
One worker at a nearby shop also said she saw three armed police officers with dogs at the scene.
City councillor for Temple Cowley, Sajjad Malik, was at the Central Oxford Mosque nearby when police officers arrived adding he saw a helicopter roaming the area above.
He said: "I thought they were keeping an eye on things for security reasons or looking for someone."
It comes after reports of a stabbing on the same road around three weeks ago sparking police to launch an attempted murder investigation.
Officers were called to a nearby alleyway between Cosin Close and Manzil Way on March 13 following the stabbing that took place between 6.30pm and 7pm.
A man in his 40s went into the Central Oxford Mosque on the street where he received immediate first aid before he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
A spokesman for the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said: "The centre is home to a number of health services provided by different organisations in the city, not exclusively Oxford Health. We are not aware of any disruption to any of our services."
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