Armed police in Oxford road amid major emergency incident

Police sirens were heard rushing to the scene on Cowley Road at about 4.20pm on Monday, August 24, as a significant emergency response descended on the city street.

Thames Valley Police said a significant response was deployed in response to reports of a man armed with a knife in the area.

A ‘large number’ of police officers and cars were sent to the scene and a cordon was set up near the junction with Manzil Way on the Cowley Road, to protect the public from harm.

Police confirmed the man was quickly identified, disarmed and arrested, and now remains in police custody.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and cooperation following the significant police presence on Cowley Road earlier today.

“We appreciate that seeing a large number of police officers and vehicles can be concerning.

“However, our priority will always be the safety of our communities, and today’s response was necessary to ensure the incident was brought under control as quickly and safely as possible.

“We would like to thank local residents, businesses and visitors for their support while we dealt with the incident.

“Thankfully, no one was injured, and we are pleased to reassure the public that there is no ongoing risk to the community.

“Your information, support and cooperation help us to keep Oxford safe.”