Armed police officers closed a road in Newport after reports that a man was seen with a gun on Thursday evening. Gwent Police received a report at about 7.45pm on Thursday, August 25, that a man was seen in the Stow Hill area of the city in possession of what they believed to be a firearm.
Officers, including firearms officers as a precaution, attended and a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear and violence. A police spokesperson said officers searched two properties in the area but no firearm was located.
Following an investigation, the 28-year-old man has now been released without charge and no injuries were reported. Witnesses had reported a heavy police presence on the street on Thursday night including several police cars and officers appearing to search a property.
Read more: Heavy police presence in Newport as armed officers spotted
“Police entered one property and then left it through the front door before going into another house about five doors up,” one witness said. “They then barged through the door and brought a man out of the house.
“It was all very quick. The road was only closed for a very short time. I was a bit shocked – you don’t usually see things like this in Stow Hill.”
A statement from Gwent Police read: "We received a report at around 7.45pm on Thursday, August 25, that a man was seen in the Stow Hill area of Newport in possession of what they believed to be a firearm. Officers, including firearms officers as a precaution, attended the location and a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear and violence.
"Officers carried out searches on two properties in the area and no firearm was located. Following an investigation, the 28-year-old man has now been released without charge and no injuries were reported. Anyone with any concerns can speak to local police, call 101 or send a direct message on Facebook or Twitter."
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