A suspect remains in police custody after being arrested for possession of a firearm in Exeter.
Armed officers were called at 4.12pm yesterday after reports that a man was in possession of a firearm in Exeter.
The man was seen by a member of the public on Exeter Quay and armed officers were deployed to the scene.
Police cleared the area of members of the public before the man was arrested.
A spokesman said this morning: "A 33 year-old man from Exeter was arrested for possession of a firearm and remains in police custody."
Our exclusive pictures reveal the moment stunned onlookers saw at least half a dozen armed officers arrest a suspect, at around 5.30pm near a children's play area.
No-one was hurt in the incident.
Earlier in the afternoon Prince Edward had formally opened the nearby multi-million pound Haven Banks activity centre. There is no indication the two events were linked in any way.
Dozens of people saw the man, who was bare-chested, lying on the ground on a patch of grass close to the pedestian footbridge near Haven Banks, as armed officers trained their weapons on the suspect and detained him.
One eyewitness said: "There were lots of armed police and people looking on. Someone was on the ground and the police were pointing weapons. There was a lot of activity."
Another told the Echo: "There was only one man involved, and he was safely taken into a van and into custody."
