Locals reported hearing gunshots when armed cops stormed into a Dartford-terraced property.

Officers responded to a property in Priory Road with a trained negotiator at 12.40pm on Saturday after receiving complaints of a “disturbance.”

Witnesses reported how police roped off the road and forced everyone to stay inside their homes before breaking down the front door and entering the property. After an hour-long standoff, “pandemonium” erupted, and neighbours reported hearing what sounded like two rounds of gunshots.

A man and a woman were brought to a London hospital with significant injuries, according to Kent Police. The residence was still sealed off, and forensics teams were seen entering late Saturday evening.

Kent Police was called to a report of a disturbance at a property in Priory Road, Dartford at 12.40pm on Saturday,” a representative for the force said. Officers arrived at the address, along with a certified police negotiator, and sought to communicate with a man inside.

“A man and a woman were later taken to a hospital in London with serious injuries.” Officers are still on the site, and investigations into the incident’s circumstances are underway.”

According to witnesses who live nearby, the woman was “held hostage” by a man in the back of the property. The scene was characterised as “chilling” by one woman who did not want to be identified.

I was in the house, and my husband and two daughters were out – they couldn’t get back home,” she explained. I walked outside and was instructed to return because I needed to stay inside. I walked to the garden to see what else was there.”