What happened in South Shields? Armed police point guns at house in dramatic scenes

There were dramatic scenes in South Shields on Saturday, as armed officers pointed guns at the front and back of a house.

Forensic teams were in and around Marshall Wallis Road in the South Tyneside town throughout the day.

A large portion of the street was taped off.

What happened in South Shields?

It is understood emergency services had rushed to the area as a result of a serious attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Around seven armed officers pointed guns towards a terraced property.

Forensic teams were pictured in and around Marshall Wallis Road on Saturday, with a police cordon in place for part of the street.

A specialist search team vehicle was also parked in the area, and scenes of crime officers were observed carrying out searches in the street and in nearby drains.

A number of witnesses spoke to our sister title The Shields Gazette about what they saw.

One reported seeing emergency services vehicles from both Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) in the street in the early hours of Saturday morning.

They said: "At about 1.45am last night I saw flashing lights in the window. I went to see what was happening and I saw an ambulance, a police van and two or three police cars.”

Another added: “My husband went out to get a paper. When he came back he said the area had been cordoned off by police. Obviously these things happen but you don't expect it on your doorstep."

Meanwhile, other residents living nearby reported to the Gazette that armed officers and police dog units had been in attendance at the scene.

Armed police remained in the location on Saturday afternoon and into the evening.

There had been a large police presence in the street throughout much of the day.

A person who lives on nearby Alice Street added: “I've lived here for 30 years and never seen anything like this.”

What’s been said?

Issuing a statement on Saturday shortly after 10pm, a NEAS spokesperson said: "We were called at 12.52am this morning (Saturday) to an incident at a private address on Marshall Wallis Road in South Shields.

"We sent three of our Hazardous Area Response teams and an emergency ambulance crew, who took one patient to hospital."

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