Police have made an arrest after a man was spotted waving a gun around inside a West Midlands church. The West Midlands force said it responded to reports of a threatening man inside St Paul's Church, in Darwall Street, Walsall on Thursday morning.
Armed officers and the police helicopter attended the scene and searched the local area. Subsequent inquiries led the police to a flat in Sandwell Street, Walsall, where a 24-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
A local shop worker told Black Country Live: "This morning someone pulled out a gun, they took it out just like that.
"After that police and armed police were everywhere. We were told it was a big gun, it happened at around 10.30am down by the Lloyds Bank."
Another witness added: "It was crazy. We saw a man waving a gun around - no one could quite beleive it. Next thing we knew, police had flooded the street and were looking for him."
Chief Inspector Steve Radford said: “I would like to thank everyone who responded to our appeal and provided information. It helped us identify a suspect and an address which we then contained with armed officers.
“We are currently in the process of searching the flat.
“I would like to praise the professionalism of all the officers involved who have brought this incident to a safe conclusion.”