Police negotiators and officers with riot shields are still in a tense stand-off with a man hurling chimneys and TV aerials from a roof in London.
The clash now threatens to enter a second day after already causing travel mayhem in the capital, with trains to be cancelled throughout the day as the drama continued to rage on.
Police have been trying to talk the man down from the top of the building in West Kensington – where properties cost an average of about £2million – since 4.20am on Monday.
The man, who appears to be in his 20s, is said to have been breaking off masonry such as chimney pots as well as television aerials. He has also allegedly hurled tiles down to the cobbled street below.
Several officers with riot shields from the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group, which specialises in public order policing, remain on the scene at Russell Gardens Mews in west London.
Meanwhile trains between Shepherd’s Bush and Clapham Junction are still suspended, with trains not running between Watford Junction/Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction. Other services have been diverted.
A man, who appears to be in his 20s, was reported throwing things from the roof of an address in west London
Eye witnesses said the man was throwing chimney pots and television aerials
Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Territorial Support Group have been in attendance at the scene in West London
It is understood the man made his way onto the roof after climbing a tree nearby
Roof tiles, chimneys and other debris litter the road after being thrown from the roof top as the police stand off continue
National Rail said that London Overground services to and from Stratford may be diverted to Richmond to avoid the affected area.
Southern Services between East Croyden/Clapham Junction and Watford Junction have also been suspended. Kensington Olympia station remains closed.
Eye witnesses said the man, who was wearing a fluorescent coat, a green woolly hat, dark trousers and casual shoes, was throwing things at the ground.
It is understood he made his way onto the roof of terraced properties after initially climbing onto a tree.
A Met Police spokesperson said that the ‘incident remains ongoing’.
The main is said to have climbed onto the terrace roof after scaling a tree nearby at around 4am
Neighbours crane their necks to try and have a look at what is happening
The man, who appears to be in his 20s, was wearing a fluorescent coat, a green woolly hat, trousers and casual shoes
TfL said it suspended the line between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction this morning as a precaution while the incident is ongoing
In a statement, Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 04.21hrs to reports of a man on a roof in Russell Gardens Mews W14.
‘He threw a number of items down onto nearby railway tracks. Officers are trying to speak to him following concerns for his welfare.’
It is not known if anyone has been injured.
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: ‘Firefighters are supporting colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service at an incident on Russell Garden Mews, Kensington.
‘The Brigade was first called about the incident at 10.19am, and crews from Hammersmith and Paddington Fire Station are currently on scene.’
