A CROSSBOW was fired at police during a prolonged stand-off in Kilkeel late last night (19 April).
Officers have been commended for their bravery and professionalism in what the local PSNI commander Lynne Corbett said was “a frightening situation.”
She also confirmed that officers used a taser and Attenuating Energy Projectiles (commonly referred to as plastic bullets) on the man, who is aged 40, to prevent him “from harming himself or anyone else.”
He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after firing the crossbow at police and brandishing a sword.
Officers were called to the Moorfield Court area at around 9pm after concerned members of the public reported a man in a balaclava armed with a crossbow was in the street threatening residents.
Superintendent Corbett added that once police arrived at the scene, off the Moor Road, the suspect “retreated to a nearby house and a prolonged stand-off ensued.”
She also revealed that, throughout the four-hour stand-off, both local police and specialist Armed Response crews “were subject to sustained attack from within the property, including being threatened with a large sword and targeted with crossbow bolts which narrowly missed responding officers.”
The senior officer also confirmed that the arrested man received an “appropriate medical review following the incident and will now be questioned on suspicion of a number of extremely serious offences including attempted murder, making threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.”
