Arrests after armed police attend parking dispute
GoogleArmed police were deployed to a shopping centre car park after someone was reported to be carrying a firearm in a dispute over a parking space.
Officers were called to the yellow multi-storey at the Metrocentre in Gateshead on Saturday afternoon following reports one person had a suspected firearm, but no weapons were found.
However, five males aged 17, 18, 20, 21 and 23 were arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and released on bail.
"While no weapons were located by police at the scene, enquiries remain ongoing," Northumbria Police said.
The force said it had been reported that the occupants of two cars had been involved in a "verbal dispute about a parking space", and one of the males was "thought to be carrying a suspected firearm".
Armed officers were deployed to the scene "as a precaution" at about 14:15 GMT.
"This is being treated as an isolated incident, and there is no wider risk to the public," the force said.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.
