UPDATE: Neighbour left '˜frightened' during Horsham stand-off

Officers enter a flat in New Street, Horsham, after a stand-off. Photo by Jason Wilson of Sussex Police

Emergency services evacuated a block of flats in New Street after a man refused to leave a flat and threatened to damage the property and himself.

A young woman and a 15-month-old baby girl left the flat during the incident which was described by police as a ‘violent domestic dispute’.

Police, along with members of the fire and ambulance service, were called at around 6.15pm.

Negotiators spoke to the man and officers entered the flat at 8.50pm.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, was in her home at the time of the incident.

She said: “It was quite frightening because we didn’t know what was going on.

“We saw ambulances and fire engines everywhere and we could not work out what was happening.

“We called the police and asked what was going on because I needed to know if it was safe for me and my kids to be there.

“It’s not something you would expect to happen in Horsham.

“It is unnerving that something like this could happen right on your door step and you have no idea.”

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, affray and causing actual bodily harm.

He was not injured during the incident and is in custody for interview and further enquiries, police said.

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