Dozens of armed officers surrounded the house in Oldham after being called out in the early hours yesterday and nearby homes were evacuated amid fears of an explosion AlamyA man suspected of taking a mother and her young sons hostage at gunpoint has been arrested after a standoff with police lasting more than 24 hours. Dozens of armed officers from Greater Manchester police surrounded a house in Oldham yesterday morning after being called at 3.15am. More than 40 homes were evacuated and gas supplies to nearby houses were switched off amid fears of an explosion. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and false imprisonment. The woman’s children, aged eight months and six, were released in the early hours of yesterday after a negotiation with officers.

Source: The Times July 26, 2017 07:52 UTC