LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Lewisham High Street Locked Down During Standoff with Armed Man
Armed police engage in protracted negotiation with a suspect brandishing a knife in central London.
11 February 2025 · 14:26 UTC
Armed police began to engage with a male suspect who was reportedly brandishing a knife while leaning out of a window on the third floor of a residential building, which also houses a row of shops on the ground floor.
The police were alerted to the situation shortly before 10:45 AM, and a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers, along with the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade, were present at the scene.
As part of their operation, armed officers took up positions near the incident location, which is in close proximity to the Lewisham police station.
Witnesses reported seeing the man waving a large knife out of the window and inside the flat.
One passer-by, Callum Fahim, described the scene to the BBC, stating that he observed armed officers aiming weapons at the suspect and noted the absence of visible negotiations occurring at that time.
He also mentioned the presence of fire engines and police horses in the vicinity.
Due to the incident, some residents in the area were unable to access their homes because of police cordons.
The street closure affected local businesses, including a branch of HSBC, which was closed as a precautionary measure; the bank later confirmed that no customers or staff were present during the event.
Throughout the day, the situation remained ongoing, with police stating that there was no indication that anyone else was inside the property alongside the suspect.
By approximately 7 PM, police reiterated that the Lewisham High Street section of the A20 would remain closed while the incident was being managed.
The local authority, Lewisham Council, confirmed that the standoff continued into the evening hours as police sought a resolution to the situation.