Armed police arrest ‘man firing machine gun from balcony’ in Chatham

A man in his 30s has been arrested after armed police were deployed near a shopping centre in Kent to reports of a man on a balcony firing weapons.

Witnesses and videos on social media appear to show a man on a balcony firing a machine gun.

Kent Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and officers have found four imitation firearms.

The alleged gunman posted videos of himself on an Instagram account.

He is seen shooting aimlessly into the air from the balcony, mentioning rappers Notorious BIG and Tupac Shakur. 

On his bed appears to be five guns and ammunition. 

The suspected gunman is heard repeatedly shouting, “call the police”.

Another video circulating on social media that appears to be from the scene showed a witness pointing out a man on a balcony.

He says: “He’s up there. He’s up there sitting on that yellow thing with a machine gun, a handgun and a rifle.”

Kent Police said: “Kent Police was called at 8.35am on Wednesday 22 April 2020 to a disturbance at a flat on Dock Head Road, Chatham.

“Members of the public reported seeing a man on a balcony with weapons and patrols, including armed officers, attended the scene.

“The police helicopter was also deployed and a man in 30s has now been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.

“Patrols remain at the scene where officers have located four suspected imitation firearms as part of their enquiries.”

It is understood there have been no injuries.