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Man in house siege arrested over alleged bomb hoax

Robby West,in Hopton-on-Seaand
Mariam Issimdar
Robby West/BBC Fire officers and police wearing safety helmets are at the gate of a house surrounded by hedges. A car is in front of the property.Robby West/BBC
Police spent more than 24 hours trying to persuade the man to leave the house

A man who had barricaded himself in a house he was being evicted from has been arrested, ending a 27-hour stand-off.

Norfolk Police said he was being held on suspicion of communicating false information in relation to an alleged bomb hoax.

Officers had been at property on Coast Road, Hopton-on-Sea, near Great Yarmouth, since 11:30 GMT on Wednesday after the man, who is in his 40s, allegedly made threats when attempts were made to remove him.

He was arrested at about 14:00 on Thursday after speaking to Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, who said: "I'm really pleased to say that the incident has come to an end and nobody's hurt."

Oxtoby added: "He was a tenant of ours and he wanted to speak to me. He's given me a letter to read."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Sheila Oxtoby has dark hair and wears a dark-coloured coat and a stripy top underneath.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
The incident ended shortly after Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, had spoken to the man

Several properties in Coast Road had been evacuated.

Hopton Church of England Primary Academy, which is opposite the house the man was in, had been closed as a precaution on Wednesday and remained closed today.

A school staff member - who did not wish to give her name - said it had "caused major disruption" for the children.

She added being evacuated from the building had been "very scary" and some of the children had been confused and were crying.

"We walked the children up to Potters [holiday park] and they were able to house us all there until parents were able to pick them up," she said.

"It was just a very surreal experience. Things like this just don't happen in a village like Hopton."

The county council said the pupils' lessons had been held remotely on Thursday.

"We thank families for their understanding and will provide further updates regarding opening as soon as possible," a statement said.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Police officers in protective riot gear walk towards a large police van which is parked outside the primary school. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
A primary school and other properties in the street were evacuated

Michael Scott, the managing director of Potters Resorts, which runs the holiday park nearby, said it had been "happy to welcome the children" and entertain them before their parents collected them.

"I'm very proud of our team, who worked alongside the teachers to make sure every child was safe, comfortable and looked after," he added.

Robby West/BBC A police staff member wearing a protective helmet is let through a cordon by a police officer. They are carrying a paper bag with items in. Robby West/BBC
Food is taken in by an officer during the siege, which went on for more than 24 hours

A police drone team and trained negotiators had been sent to the incident. Ambulances and fire engines had also been at the scene.

Coast Road has now reopened.

A cordon remains in place at the address.

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