Homes evacuated after man claims he had ‘access to explosives’ in London

Homes on a London street were evacuated after a man claiming to have access to a bomb fell from a window.

Police were called to Stanstead Road in Catford last night after a resident said he had access to explosives.

Officers deployed tear gas, forcing neighbours to evacuate their homes.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, then fell from an upper floor window and was taken to hospital.

He remains in a critical condition. It is not known whether any explosives were found.

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Specialist officers and negotiators attended the scene and engaged with a man, believed to be in his 20s, who claimed to have access to explosives.

‘The London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade were also in attendance.

‘The man fell from an upper floor window of the property at 07:45hrs. He suffered a number of injuries and has been taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

‘A number of neighbouring properties have been evacuated. Officers remain at the scene and a cordon remains in place while enquiries continue.

‘The incident is not being treated as terror-related.

‘The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been notified, and a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’

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