Two men arrested after armed police swarm Shrewsbury street - with video

Residents of Fitzalan Road saw armed officers searching an alleyway and pointing their firearms at a terraced house in the adjoining Dutton Green on Wednesday afternoon.

Police cars and motorbikes filled the road, after at least five police vehicles were seen speeding down the A5 towards Shrewsbury beforehand.

WATCH: Police operation captured on video

West Mercia Police said reports of a group of men with weapons gathered in Fitzalan Road were received just after 3.30pm.

A 37-year-old man and a 46-year-old man, both from Shrewsbury, were arrested on suspicion of affray. Both remain in police custody.

Investigating officer Inspector Ben Tanfield said: “I understand it would have been concerning for members of the public who saw this incident so we have increased our patrols in the area to provide the local community with reassurance."

A mother-of-two who lives nearby said: "I didn’t see what was going on but everyone has been talking about it.

"We have the police round here sometimes but not usually armed ones.

"It is worrying because we have kids here who could have been caught up in it because they play out on the street sometimes and it was in the middle of the afternoon."

Another neighbour on Fitzalan Road, who did not want to be named, said: "I looked out of the window and there were police cars all the way down the street.

"My neighbour said they were looking for two lads and something to do with firearms, I don’t know if that’s true though.

Shouting

"There was some shouting and I saw one of the blokes getting arrested by a policeman.

"There were police around for a while afterwards too and there have been some here today."

Zac Longman, who was staying with a friend around the corner from where the incident happened, said: "Everyone was watching from their windows. We couldn’t see so I went out to see what was going on but couldn’t see much because of all the police cars.

"We heard it was to do with firearms which probably explains why they sent armed response officers out, but I don’t know if they found anything in the end.

"It makes you worry about what’s going on right on your doorstep doesn't it. But it is reassuring to see police still here today."

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information relating to it, to contact West Mercia Police on 101 quoting incident 0442s of 23 October 2019.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org