Three people arrested over 'suspicious incident' at Portsmouth NatWest bank

By Freddie Webb
Published 6th Jan 2023, 16:10 BST
Updated 6th Jan 2023, 17:43 BST
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WORKERS have told of the moment they saw armed police descend on a Portsmouth high street after a ‘suspicious incident’ outside a bank.

Police were scrambled to Cosham High Street at 1.04pm after hearing reports of an incident at NatWest. A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokeswoman said they received reports of a man being threatened and forced to withdraw money.

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A man and two women have been arrested, while specialist officers maintain a presence at the scene. No injuries have been reported.

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The scene outside NatWest in Cosham High Street. Picture: Joe Buncle.The scene outside NatWest in Cosham High Street. Picture: Joe Buncle.
The scene outside NatWest in Cosham High Street. Picture: Joe Buncle.

The police spokeswoman said: ‘It was reported that a man had been threatened and asked to withdraw money from his bank account. No-one has been injured.

‘Specialist officers attended the scene and have arrested a man and two women in connection with this incident. Officers remain at the scene at the current time.’

Katie Lovelock, who works in Peacocks across the road from the bank, said: ‘I was in work, I heard shouting so I came outside and a big commotion was going on.

‘There was this young boy, hands on his head, and men with guns. I didn’t even think it was anything to do with the bank and I saw a taxi outside. It's just really scary, I’ve never seen anything like it when I’ve been at work.

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Current scene at Cosham High Street, three people arrested. Picture: Joe Buncle.Current scene at Cosham High Street, three people arrested. Picture: Joe Buncle.
Current scene at Cosham High Street, three people arrested. Picture: Joe Buncle.

‘The whole high street, people were coming out of work, out of their houses. It was so weird.’

Video shot by onlookers shows police ordering a young male to place his hands on their vehicle and leading another away in handcuffs.

Cosham high street was filled with spectators and two shop workers who wished to remain anonymous said the police took the suspects to a nearby car park where they were put into a police car. The workers said they were struck by the efficiency and speed of the operation and how the police directed the public away from danger.

Dervis Yorulmaz, who works in a pizza shop near the scene of the incident, said: ‘I went out from the shop and saw armoured police cars there. Then, they caught the two young fellas. They looked like fifteen, sixteen years old.The bank called the police and then they just caught them in ten seconds.’