Detectives probing alleged firearms offences have made their fifth arrest in less than 24 hours.
Armed police swooped to arrest four men in Newcastle last night in a pre-planned operation.
And we can now reveal that a fifth suspect was held this afternoon, as part of the same investigation.
The 31-year-old man is now in police custody and all five have been questioned on suspicion of possessing an unlawful firearm.
The drama unfolded at around 9.15pm last night when police used a stinger device to stop a vehicle in the Stamfordham Road area of Westerhope .
Two men, aged 19 and 30, were arrested.
Officers arrested a further two men, aged 32 and 48, on suspicion of possession of an unlawful firearm in the Forth Banks area of Newcastle city centre.
The fifth suspect was arrested on Wednesday.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "No one was injured during the incident and there is no wider threat to the public.
"All arrested remain in police custody at this time and en quiries are ongoing."
Police say it is possible people in Westerhope may have heard some loud bangs as the operation was carried out, last night.
However, they have explained that these were caused by the device used to deflate the vehicles tyres.
