PICTURED: Armed police swoop on flat to arrest suspect and seize weapons
This is the dramatic moment armed police swooped on a flat, arresting a man and seizing a number of ornamental weapons.
The afternoon raid took place at a block of flats off Greyfriars in Stafford.
The man, aged 25, was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and being in possession of a bladed article and was taken into custody.
The weapons discovered inside the flat were taken away by police and will now be subject to detailed forensic examination.
No-one was injured in the incident. Police patrols in the area have been stepped up since the raid.
Police were called to the flat just after 2pm on Thursday by a member of the public concerned about the man's behaviour. The area was cordoned off by officers and police dogs were also used.
Staffordshire Police press officer Faye Casey said: "Police were called to the location just after 2pm by a member of the public concerned about a man's behaviour.
"Due to the information received armed patrols, together with officers from the dog support unit, attended the scene.
"The area immediately around the flats was cordoned off for a short time to ensure the safety of the public and enable officers to carry out their work.
"No-one was injured as a result of the incident and a detailed investigation to understand the circumstances of what happened is now underway.
"Local neighbourhood officers are now carrying out high visibility patrols in the area to reassure members of the public."
