ARMED police descended on a Southampton Road after a man was allegedly walking around with a samurai sword. 

A member of the public reported the incident claiming he saw the man walking along St Mary Street in Southampton brandishing the weapon. 

Armed response units rushed to the scene just after 12.30am this morning. 

One witness said they saw the man wielding the sword in East Park "threatening people". 

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They added that the police arrived and they could see the sword on the floor before officers picked it up and put it into a car. 

A 24-year-old Southampton man was arrested as a result near Charlotte Place. 

A police spokesperson said: "Armed response units were deployed due to the nature of the report, and arrested a 24-year-old Southampton man near Charlotte Place on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

“The man remains in police custody at this time and the sword was seized.”

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