Royal Liverpool University Hospital: Man arrested and handgun recovered

Prescot Street was closed in both directions as police dealt with the incident

A man has been arrested and a handgun recovered after armed police were called to a city centre hospital.

Officers descended on an area outside the Royal Liverpool University Hospital at 22:20 GMT on Wednesday due to concerns for the safety of a man.

Merseyside Police said a 61-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm on Thursday morning following a 12-hour standoff.

The hospital has remained fully operational during the incident.

But a spokesman had warned there would be minor disruption to services and access to the hospital.

Police said the man, from Speke in Liverpool, was detained and medically assessed before being arrested and taken into custody for questioning.

A handgun was seized and will be forensically examined, the force added.

Prescot Street was closed in both directions while police dealt with the incident but has since reopened.

"We would like to thank the public and staff at the hospital for their patience and understanding," a police spokesman said.

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