A man has been shot dead at Milton Keynes railway station after reports he was carrying a firearm.
Police officers were called to Milton Keynes Central station at Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, just before 1pm today after a man ‘was spotted carrying a firearm’.
The man was then challenged by armed Thames Valley Police personnel before shots were fired.
Despite attempts to save his life, the man was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.
Milton Keynes Central Station has reopened to the public, but extra barriers have been put up to obscure some of its exits, with multiple doors closed to the public and passengers staggered entering and leaving the station at times.
Thames Valley Police do not believe there is any further risk to the public.
A source near to the incident told Metro: ‘I just heard a bang and then the ambulances arrived.’
A worker at a store close to the station said the whole area was cordoned off and three or four police cars are still present.
He told Metro: ‘I have never known anything like it. It is obviously concerning, we have never heard anything happen like this before.’
‘The station has been closed for a couple hours now.’
Thames Valley Police said in a statement: ‘Officers from Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police were called to reports of a man carrying a firearm at Milton Keynes railway station, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, at 12.55pm today.
‘Armed officers from Thames Valley Police responded and challenged the man, before shots were fired by police.
‘Life-saving actions were immediately taken at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.
‘There is not believed to be any further risk to the public at this time.
‘We will provide more details as soon as we are able to.’
The police conduct watchdog have confirmed they are launching an investigation into the fatal shooting.
A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: ‘We can confirm we have begun an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of a man by Thames Valley Police (TVP) at Milton Keynes railway station today.
‘We were notified by TVP shortly after the incident and IOPC investigators have been sent to the station and the police post-incident procedure to begin gathering information.
‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and all those who have been affected by this incident.
‘Our role in these circumstances is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police.
‘We declared an independent investigation at 2.26pm. It is in its very early stages and no further information is available at this time.’
British Transport Police said: ‘BTP received a report from Thames Valley Police at 1pm today, of a man carrying a firearm at Milton Keynes station.
‘Armed officers from Thames Valley Police responded and he was shot and pronounced dead outside of the station.
‘BTP officers are on scene to assist our colleagues from TVP, and the station is open as normal.’
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