It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
ARMED police have surrounded a bookmaker's store in Jarrow this evening and, in the past few minutes, reports of shots fired.
Reports on social media say at least one person was taken hostage. However, it appears the hostage has been allowed out of the premises.
Police say there is still someone inside the building, on Grange Road, Jarrow and the the past couple of minutes there has been activity after reports of shots fired.
A couple of blokes have went to rob the bookies and it's went tits up. Armed response and the helicopters got their straightaway before they could get away. They've covered the windows up and took hostages. It's now a stand off situation.
Couple of shots fired (probably rubber bullets) and the hostage taker is being escorted away by the coppers
originally posted by: Kester
They're saying he had a loaded sawn off shotgun, but it ended without injury. Hooray British Police.
originally posted by: rickymouse
Nice to see it wasn't a suicide by cop ordeal. We get a few of those around here once in a while.