London police shoot dead man with crossbow, weapon recovered

A crossbow, knife, sword and hatchet were found after an armed man was killed by police, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

Police said armed officers were called to Surrey Quays, south London, just before 5am GMT after reports a man armed with a crossbow was attempting to enter a property.

The man, who was wearing armor, received first aid but died at the scene.

IOPC believes the man was known to at least one resident of the premises.

The newspaper said local police officers “attempted unsuccessfully to speak to the man who had entered the property” at Bywater Place in Southwark, but that “they received threats and called for assistance from armed officers”.

“Armed officers arrived at the scene and entered the house where a man had been shot dead,” the IOPC continued.

“We can confirm that two shots were fired from a police-issued firearm and further analysis will take place.”

The IOPC launched an investigation after the man’s death, which is normal in cases of fatal police shootings.

Police confirmed that they had notified the deceased man’s next of kin.

Police said the man was suspected of threatening to harm people on the premises before his death.

Two people inside are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

A large number of police vehicles remain parked in front of the cordon separating the road from the main road.

Residents expressed disbelief that something like this could happen in the area.

Michael Wren described the shock he felt after leaving home.

“This area is pretty peaceful,” he said. “Nothing like this happens. It’s shocking when something like this happens.”

Many people living within the lockdown area said they had anxiously watched police operations throughout the day, trying to understand why the initial clashes occurred.

Det Ch Supt Seb Adjei-Addoh said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.

“We understand that local residents are concerned by the events that occurred this morning. We fully support the IOPC investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”

An IOPC spokesperson said investigators were at the scene to collect evidence.

The latest fatal shooting by the Metropolitan Police was that of Giedrius Vasilievas, 40, who died in November at his home in Dagenham, east London, after calling 999 saying he had loaded a gun and said he was going to kill himself.