Man Charged Over 10-Hour Flat Siege

Police have charged a man after a 10-hour armed standoff in Bournemouth.

34-year-old Richard Steel from Poole's accused of assault and making a false bomb threat.

Teams of armed and unarmed police were called to a property in Seabourne Road, in the Pokesdown area of Bournemouth shortly before 4pm Monday (7th Feb) following claims that a man had locked himself inside.

Road closures were put in place and a cordon was set up around the house, before specialist negotiators attempted to resolve the incident. A number of people within the flats were evacuated for more than 10 hours during the incident, which also involved a police helicopter.

Officers entered the property just after 2am this morning and arrested the suspect, before the evacuated locals were allowed to return to their homes.

At the time, a spokesman for Dorset Police said: "At approximately 2.15am this morning unarmed officers supported by armed officers entered a property in Seabourne Road where they located a male with whom they had been in earlier negotiations.

"A 34-year-old male from the Poole area was arrested in connection with an allegations of making threats to kill."

No weapons were discharged during the incident.