Shots fired as two arrested in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter

Officers shot out the silver car's tyres as the drama unfolded yesterday morning. Three men from Birmingham have been arrested.

The planned robbery happened at around 11.10am, in the Hockley area, with witnesses reporting hearing a number of gunshots in the historic city district.

Video footage of the scene, filmed by a member of the public, later emerged of armed police officers in Spencer Street detaining a suspect who can be seen lying on the ground next to a silver 4x4 vehicle. Witnesses have reported that all four tyres on the car were punctured by police before two men were taken away.

Twitter user Ian Williams (@FishermansEnemy) posted this video of the scene, showing a suspect handcuffed on the ground next to the silver car involved.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit robbery – two of the men were arrested at the scene. All three were today being questioned by detectives.

Police have confirmed the gunshot sounds were 'specialist low impact rounds' used to deflate a car's tyres during their operation, in the heart of the traditional business district which is filled with jewellers and gem dealers.

Det Insp Darren Crutchley, from West Midlands Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "Two men were arrested by police in the Jewellery Quarter yesterday morning on suspicion of conspiring to commit robbery.

"The pair, aged 35 and 32, were stopped in a vehicle on Spencer Street by officers. Nobody was injured during the incident. A third man, aged 24, has also been arrested in relation to this ongoing investigation. All three remain in custody and will be questioned by detectives."

The police quickly moved to allay fears following rumours of guns being fired. The force's Twitter account, @WMPolice, tweeted: "Rum-ours around gunshots in Jewellery Quarter – firearms officers have stopped a car, by puncturing tyres with specialist low impact rounds."