The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston was reportedly on lock down this evening after security staff raised the alarm about a man behaving suspiciously.
West Midlands Police statement:
Police were called to Queen Elizabeth Hospital at 6.20pm today (Thursday 25 May) following reports of a man acting suspiciously.
Working alongside hospital security staff, officers detained and searched a 46-year-old Birmingham man in an area away from the main building.
As a precaution access to parts of the hospital was restricted for around 50 minutes while checks were completed. Officers sent to investigate were supported by firearms officers including some whom were already at the hospital.
The man has not been arrested and the call to police by security staff was made in good faith. We thank the guards for their vigilance and for acting on their concerns.
We continue to ask for people to remain alert and report suspicious behaviour to us on 101 or via the confidential Anti-terrorism Hotline 0800 789 321.
Eye witness reports began to come in via social media at around 7.30pm, saying armed police were at the hospital in numbers and no-one was allowed to enter or leave.
Unmarked Police cars arriving outside the Cancer centre at the QE hospital earlier. #qe #Birmingham pic.twitter.com/mSHPjPhmFh
— HappyShopperPolymath (@HSPolymath) May 25, 2017
Qe hospital in brum on lock down ,wife is stuck inside
— stephen ayres (@jimmyvilla1961) May 25, 2017
Armed police at QE hospital Birmingham and we are not allowed to leave
pic.twitter.com/t8uRQqEvUx
— Vicky Randhawa (@vickyrandhawa) May 25, 2017
It appears that around an hour later people were permitted to leave and enter the hospital.
Thanks go to West Midlands Police and hospital security staff for their great response.