Woolwich: Police Shoot at Man Who Doused Himself With Petrol and Threatened to Set Himself Alight

A man has been arrested after dousing himself in petrol and threatening to set himself alight at a filling station in south-east London.

Officers were called to the scene close to Woolwich barracks following reports a man was threatening to self-harm.

The man was eventually detained after police fired plastic bullets, or baton rounds, at him following a two-hour stand-off at the Harvest Energy garage near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Artillery Place way.

Witnesses described hearing the man shouting "shoot me" at the police marksmen after refusing to co-operate, reported the Evening Standard.

Scotland Yard said plastic rounds were used instead of a Taser over fears the stun gun could have ignited the petrol.

The stand-off took place close to where Fusilier Lee Rigby was killed in May 2013. However, police confirmed the incident is not terrorist-related.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson added: "Police were called at approximately 1920hrs on 28 October to a petrol station on Artillery Place, Woolwich, following reports of a man threatening self-harm.

"Officers, including firearms officers, hostage negotiators, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were called to the scene.

"Firearms officers were deployed to provide a wider range of tactical options to resolve the incident safely.

"Due to the significant risk of harm to the male and others from petrol which had been dispersed at the scene, at around 2100hrs a single baton round was discharged and the man was safely detained.

"He was taken to a south London hospital as a precaution but has now been released. He has been arrested and remains in police custody.

"No reports of any other injuries during the incident."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been informed and a post-incident procedure has begun. Police said both these actions are routine in these circumstances.