UPDATE: Man Down From Ipswich Station Roof

19 July 2013, 15:50

A man who has caused travel chaos between Norwich and London has come down from the roof at Ipswich Station.

The man, dressed only in a pair of shorts, was up there from about 8.30am to 3.30pm.

British Transport Police said: “Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service also attended the incident, and placed a ladder to allow the man to get down, which he refused.  Officers also retrieved a retractable knife, which the man dropped.
 
“Police negotiators were called and spoke to the man for an extended period of time to encourage him to leave the roof safely, which would have allowed the station and lines to reopen more promptly.
 
“Specialist policing at heights officers were also deployed and, at 3.10pm, the 25-year-old man came down of his own accord via a ladder.”
 
Superintendent Matt Allingham, of BTP, said: “This was a difficult and deeply frustrating situation for officers, rail staff and all passengers and I’d like to thank everyone for their patience today.
 
“We were faced with a man in a precarious situation, some 30 feet from the ground, who did not want to come down. During the incident the safety of the man, and members of the public nearby, was of paramount concern for us.
 
“The man was walking around areas that could not have taken the weight of more than one person; if anyone had taken the wrong step, the consequences could have been far worse.
 
“Power in and around the station was also turned off to preserve the safety of the man and officers dealing with the incident.”