After police were called to a garden shed near Roehampton gate in Richmond Park

At 12.41pm on Thursday police were called to a premises where they found a 70 year old man in possession of knife and threatening to injure himself. He was in a very distressed state and was holding a large knife with its point pushed into his ribs.

A full police response was mobilised and officers began negotiation. Specialist hostage negotiators attended the scene and continued this negotiation for over four hours. The Territorial Support Group were also in attendance to contain any threat to the public should the male have attempted to make off from the area.

Police inform us that by 4.30pm the incident was resolved without serious injury when the man was persuaded to put down the knife and walked out of the shed to the officers. He was conveyed to St Georges Hospital by the London Ambulance Service for treatment in relation to a minor stab wound and further psychiatric assessment.

Superintendent David Chinchen said:
"This incident will have attracted attention given the volume of people entering and leaving Richmond Park during this period. There was no threat to the public during this incident."

March 18, 2011