[Scarlett.]

Armed police remain outside Halifax bank in Blackpool in six-hour stand-off with a man on a mobility scooter who poured petrol inside

A huge emergency service response was launched following the incident at the Halifax branch on Church Street shortly after 2pm today (September 28).

A large cordon continues this evening along Church Street, St Johns Square and Cedar Square and members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

Earlier this afternoon, more than a dozen shops including M&S, Ladbrokes, Nandos and Greggs were closed and other nearby buildings were evacuated.

In a statement at 6.45pm tonight, a Blackpool Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services are still at the Halifax bank in Blackpool. We continue to ask people to avoid the area if possible."

Live update on Lancs Live

[bitontheslide]

mobility scooter and petrol? it's not really the getaway vehicle of dreams

Sounds like a disgruntled customer

[James]

Youtube video

[Scarlett.]

Apparently at the start, he did hold the manager hostage and douse them in petrol too, though he did later let them go.

Most recent update is gas engineers shutting off gas and purging the pipes in the area



Oh, also the snipped of the article didn't mention, but he has also doused himself in petrol.

[Scarlett.]

He was detained at 2am after giving himself up peacefully, he's been detained under the mental health act.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Scarlett.

He was detained at 2am after giving himself up peacefully, he's been detained under the mental health act.

Bloody Old Git


"An 80-year-old man has since been detained
under the mental health act.
A cordon will remain in place around the bank
while investigators attend."

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by arista

Bloody Old Git


"An 80-year-old man has since been detained
under the mental health act.
A cordon will remain in place around the bank
while investigators attend."

Weirdly, in an unrelated incident, a road two blocks away is currently cordoned off too due to a gas leak, so half the town is inaccessable xD