A man has been shot dead by armed police after barricading himself inside a property and making threats in Bedford, Bedfordshire.
Incident Details
Bedfordshire Police were called to reports of vehicles being damaged on Aylesbury Road in Bedford on Monday night. Upon arrival, officers found a man in his 40s who had barricaded himself inside a property and was making threats.
The man was shot by armed officers at the scene and pronounced dead shortly after. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified and will conduct an investigation into the incident, as is standard procedure when police use lethal force.
Police Statement
A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Police said: "We were called at around 9:30pm on Monday to reports of a man damaging vehicles on Aylesbury Road. Officers attended and found a man in his 40s inside a property, barricaded and making threats. Armed officers were deployed and a man was shot. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene."
The spokesperson added: "Our thoughts are with the man's family at this difficult time. An investigation by the IOPC has been launched."
Local Reaction
Residents in the area reported hearing loud noises and seeing a heavy police presence. A cordon was put in place while officers dealt with the incident. Roads were closed for several hours but have since reopened.
This is a developing story. More details will be released as they become available.
