Two children, 12 and 13, arrested after armed police and dog units storm bus in Southampton city centre
TWO children were arrested after armed police stormed a bus in a busy city centre.
A Bluestar bus on Bernard Street in Southampton was stopped and boarded by armed officers around 6.30pm on Sunday.
Two children aged 12 and 13 were arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife in a public place, Hampshire Police confirmed.
Police said they were called after a person was reported to be carrying a large knife in International Way.
They were reportedly with a larger group which boarded a bus into the city centre.
Dog units and armed police were seen boarding the number 17 Bluestar bus before arresting two people and recovering a knife.
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David Bally, 62, was walking in the city centre when he saw the drama unfold.
He said the incident resembles scenes straight out of a Hollywood movie.
David witnessed two dog units and an unmarked car waiting behind the bus stop before moving in front of the bus.
Officers then either stormed the bus or positioned themselves just outside, according to the witness
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David told The Echo: "It’s not something you expect to see in everyday life.
"It’s one thing to see a police dog unit, it’s another thing to see armed police with automatic weapons pull over a bus in broad daylight, it’s usually something you see in films.
"The police weren’t actually pointing the guns at anyone but to have that kind of presence there was unlike anything I’ve seen – lots of people were stood on the roadside taking pictures and eventually I think we thought we better get out of there."
Hampshire Police said in an update on Monday afternoon that the 12-year-old was released from custody under investigation, while the 13-year-old remained in custody.
A spokesman for Bluestar said police had requested to stop the bus and acted swiftly in conducting their investigation.
It comes after a 12-year-old boy was among four more youngsters who have been arrested on suspicion of the rape of a teenage girl.
And a teen has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed on a train.