Police taser man to end two-hour Derry stand-off

Police in Derry have confirmed a taser was used to a man wielding a knife during a two-hour stand-off at a hostel in city this week.

The incident happened at the Methodist City Mission (pictured) at Crawford Square at 12.30pm on Monday, after police said staff at the hostel ‘expressed concern at the conduct’ of a man aged in his 30s.

The PSNI arrived at the scene, as did the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) along with paramedics.

Residents of the hostel were evacuated from the building and taken to the Rosemount Resource Centre.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said that officers then spoke to the man, who appeared to be carrying a knife.

The incident came to an end shortly after 3pm, after police used a taser on the man, who was then arrested and taken to hospital for treatment.

The Taser is a single shot weapon designed to temporarily incapacitate a subject through the use of an electrical current which is delivered through electrical barbs fire from the weapon.

One eyewitness said the incident had ‘shocked’ people living in the area.

The man, who did not wished to be named, said: “The police and fire crews all arrived, and one of the fellas there said that a man had started a fire inside the building and locked himself in his room with a knife.

“The men inside the hostel were all taken out and there were at least 16 police officers all dressed in riot gear lined up to go in.” He added: “People were pretty shocked by the whole thing and it lasted for a few hours.” The director of the NW Methodist Mission, Liam Milligan said that the incident had been brought to a ‘satisfactory conclusion’ by the PSNI.

“We had a resident with personal difficulties, and we had to work with him in order to bring the incident to a satisfactory conclusion.

“The police, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and Ambulance service were involved, and the PSNI brought the incident to a successful conclusion.”

A PSNI spokesperson added that the Police Ombudsman’s Office has since been informed of the incident.