Armed police swarmed on an Ipswich street following reports of a man carrying an axe and damaging property.
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of affray and taken away from Skylark Lane after an almost two-hour siege.
Officers were called to the scene at 11.05am today, after residents of the street reported a man in the rear garden of a property, armed with an axe and causing damage to the building.
Neighbours described witnessing the arrival of squad cars, armed units and a dog van, supported from the air by the police helicopter.
At about 12.45pm, the drama concluded with a man being slowly guided into the back of a police car, flanked by two officers, and driven away to be booked into custody.
Chief inspector Matthew Rose, who was at the scene, said: “We were called just after 11am to initial reports of a man being armed with an axe.
“One local male was arrested on suspicion of affray and taken into custody.”
It is understood the suspect injured a finger during the incident and made no attempt to resist arrest.
Barry Wright, a resident of Skylark Lane, said: “At about 11.15am, I saw the first two police cars arrive, followed by two lots of armed response units.
“They went to a flat and guided out the lady who lives there alone.
“She has trouble with her legs and they helped her into a police car – I suppose for her own safety.
“Then they got her neighbours out as well.
“They were here for a good hour-and-a-quarter after that.
“I wanted to get to my car to go and buy some paracetamol for my wife, but I was told to go back inside.
“Officers went round the side of the garden and were shouting ‘armed response’.
“They sent a dog in after a while. Then the dog came back.
“Then I heard eight or nine heavy bangs. It was pretty frightening.
“After a while I saw a man come out with the police. He could hardly walk and was drained of any colour.”
Police said actions were concentrated on a specific property, believed to comprise of self-contained flats.
The force also said that no shots were fired during the siege incident.
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