ARMED police swooped on a Southampton address following a stabbing in the city centre. 

A man in his 30s was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following an attack outside the Tesco Express in London Road. 

Passers-by looked on in shock as ambulances and police descended on the scene on Wednesday morning and a cordon was set up.

The road was blocked off in both directions for much of Wednesday as officers carried out investigations. 

Read more: Man arrested following stabbing outside Tesco store

Later in the day police were called out to Parsonage Road to reports of a man on a roof throwing tiles.

A 'massive cordon' was put in place and the street was closed at its junction with Northam Road. 

Multiple armed officers and a police drone unit were involved in the operation that lasted over four hours. 

At 10.30pm, a 31-year-old man from the city was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with the London Road stabbing. 

Read more: Read more: What we know so far after 'scary' stabbing in Southampton

A witness said: "By the time I showed up the cordon was massive. You could not get very near it.

"He was throwing roof tiles, I was told. It was quite an evening. 

"I saw one of the armed response units and a drone unit. 

"All the police were parked right outside the garage."

The initial incident in London Road caused alarm for many people. 

Nurses, Monica Pinto and Andreia Martins described their shock at seeing such a large police presence following the stabbing at around 10.30am.

Monica said: “We came down this road for a coffee. We don’t know what’s going on, but it looks really scary.”

Shopworker Kevin West added that the violent assault was quite unusual.

Pedestrians and motorists were urged to avoid the area and a crime scene cordon ran from Tesco to Bellevue Road. 

Meanwhile, police patrol cars were stationed at both ends of London Road blocking traffic. 

At the time of writing, the arrested man remains in police custody.

However, witnesses, and anyone with information that could help officers with their investigations, are urged to call 101 quoting crime reference number 44220269380.

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