ARMED police stormed a house in Southend over reports there was a gun inside.

Four armed police units were called to the property in York Road, where they led about nine people from the bedsit.

The road was closed for a brief period, at its junction with Queensway, as officers surrounded the building.

A search later discovered a BB gun, but no arrests were made.

A man who was inside the house during the police raid, and who asked not to be named, said: “It was terrifying. I’ve never had a gun pointed at my head before and told get outside.

“I know the police are just doing their job, but I think they went too far. It was just two kids messing around with a BB gun inside the house, and then all of a sudden there were four armed police units surrounding the house outside.

“They had us all outside at gunpoint because they wanted to see if there were any weapons in the house, which there wasn’t.

“They confiscated the BB gun, but it was only a couple of children having fun.”

It is the second BB gun incident on the road in little over two weeks, with officers closing down York Road on Sunday, September 21, after a 17-yearold was shot in the leg.

York Road has been at the centre of police activity in recent months since Hassan Mohammed Ibrahim died after being stabbed there in July.

Earlier this monthaman was also stabbed in the groin in York Road.

Essex Police said it takes all reports of firearmoffences seriously.

A spokesman for Essex Police added: “Armed police officers attended a property in York Road, Southend, after reports a gun had reportedly been seen inside.

“The property was searched and an imitation weapon was found. Officers removed it and took it away to be disposed of at a nearby police station.

“York Road was closed at its junction with Queensway while officers attended the incident.”

The incident happened at about 4.15pm on Monday.

 

Be careful, residents group says

A CAMPAIGN group set up in the wake of York Road’s recent troubles has called for residents to be careful when brandishing imitation weapons.

A group of 30 locals formed the York Road Residents’ Association last month, in response to several high-profile incidents in the road.

They want to cut down on crime, which they say is blighting the area, and say Monday’s BB gun incident does not help York Road’s reputation.

Keith Kelsey, chairman of the association, said: “The police have to protect themselves and they have to protect the public, so I think that they did the right thing.

“Another BB gun incident happened only weeks ago there and the whole area is under the spotlight, so people should be acting with caution if they’re wielding replica guns.

“They look the real deal. If someone with a BB gun pointed one at me and told me to get down on all fours I would do.

“I understand if the people in the house were shaken up, but the whole area is on red alert at the moment and if there’s just one per cent chance it is a real weapon then you can’t take that ý Worried – Keith Kelsey, chairman of the York Road Residents’ Association chance.”