Armed police swooped into Surrey Quays Shopping Centre this afternoon while chasing a man from a car that had a gun inside.
Police from the Violent Crime Task Force stopped a car on Lower Road shortly before 3pm, and found a “quantity of drugs, ammunition and a firearm.”
Two men from the car were arrested and have been taken into a custody.
But a third man ran from the car into the direction of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, said police.
Armed police were called to look for him inside the shopping centre, to the surprise of shoppers.
Surrey Quays shopping centre has been evacuated! Several armed police were seen entering not long before. #SE16 pic.twitter.com/gBx1I48X3i
— James Bee #FREEPALESTINE ?? (@EcoloBee) November 19, 2020
Pictures on social media show a queue of shoppers evacuated from the centre this afternoon. It is not immediately clear if this was connected.
Officers did not manage to find the third man, and are still looking for him.
“He has not been found but enquiries continue to locate him,” said a spokesperson.
“Officers will remain in the area while the search continues.”