Margate’s Marine Parade was placed on lockdown as armed police responded to reports of a man seen carrying a gun in the area.
Armed officers wearing balaclavas were seen exiting a blue BMW X5 following a high-speed chase down the M2 near Canterbury on Tuesday afternoon. A National Police Air Service helicopter was deployed to assist, surveying the area from above.
Several roads around Marine Parade were blocked by marked police units as the search for the suspect intensified. Local residents expressed concern on social media about the presence of a gunman in the vicinity.
A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed that officers were called to a robbery at a commercial premises on Newington Road, Ramsgate just before 2pm on Wednesday, 19 February 2020. The spokesperson stated, “A quantity of cash was stolen. No injuries have been reported but witnesses state a weapon was seen during the incident.”
Following new intelligence, armed officers arrested a man at Marine Terrace, Margate shortly after 3pm. The suspect is currently in custody while investigations continue.
Police patrols remain active at Newington Road and Marine Terrace as Kent Police continue to investigate the robbery and the armed suspect incident.
Originally published by UKNIP.
