ARMED police surrounded Southampton YMCA yesterday after a man threatened to shoot himself.
Officers with machine guns sealed off roads in St Mary’s after the teenager threatened to take his own life after a row with his girlfriend.
Staff at the YMCA entered the girl’s room to find the man with what appeared to be a pistol saying he was going to burn down the building and take his own life. The man dropped the gun and fled the scene before officers arrived.
Police circled the property before storming the building to discover the gun was in fact a BB gun. No one was injured as the drama unfolded shortly before 1pm.
Last night officers were continuing their search for the man who had not returned to the premises and was said to be wearing white tracksuit bottoms and a white shirt.
Around 25 officers were involved in the incident including four armed police units and dog handlers.
Landon Oliver, from Nursling, had been visiting a friend at the YMCA when the police swooped. The 18- year-old said: “There were just policemen all the way round just in case anyone got out.
“I just saw them come in with the guns, it was pretty scary.”
About 40 youngsters live independently at the centre but are provided with support as and when they need it.
Southampton YMCA director Tony Frowd said this was the first incident of its kind at the centre in Cranbury Terrace, close to the end of The Avenue.
The director said checks were made of people’s rooms once a week but that it was important for the young people to maintain a sense of independence.
“This is a very isolated incident and is more a reflection of society at large,” said Mr Frowd.
“Most of the community here will be very well behaved and it just takes one person to cause a problem.
“What we do is very positive and we have a lot of people who come through the YMCA with support and a great many of whom move on with a positive outcome.”
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