Police name siege death pensioner

POLICE have named an elderly man who died from gunshot wounds following a dramatic police siege in a Suffolk market town.

The body of Brian Smith, 68, was discovered more than three hours after the siege began in Thackeray Grove, Stowmarket, on Friday night.

Armed officers were called to a detached two-storey house at around 5pm after residents reported that an OAP was threatening to harm himself.

Speaking at the weekend a number of neighbours expressed their shock about what had happened.

Pamela Firman, of The Becketts said: "I'm horrified. You don't expect this around here."

Her husband Neil added: "We are very surprised. I came out with the dogs at about 9pm. There were police cars and an ambulance outside the house. It looked as if there was some activity in the house, which was an ex-show home."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I got a full view of it from my bedroom window. There were police units dotted across the road. There were officers standing below my window with guns. There were dog units and police cars were stopping traffic."

The woman said that Mr Smith had only been at the house for a matter of months.

During the stand-off, the cul-de-sac off Chilton Road was cordoned off and residents were told to remain in their homes as trained negotiators tried to make contact with Mr Smith, who was believed to have been armed with a gun.

Residents watched as an ambulance and police dog units were also drafted in before officers eventually entered the house around 8.30pm.

When they went into the house Mr Smith's body was discovered on the floor.

Speaking after the incident a spokesperson for Suffolk police said it appeared that Mr Smith had died as a result of a gunshot wound and that his death was not being treated as suspicious.