A man has been locked in a stand-off with armed police in Jesmond for more than three hours.
Police were called to Osborne Terrace at about 5.05pm to reports of concern for the welfare of a man inside an address.
Officers have cordoned off the street as armed police entered the property along with a negotiator after finding the man threatening to harm himself.
Nearby resident Sam Pennington, 27, told ChronicleLive that officers arrived at the scene with riot shields and assault rifles.
The Northumbria University student said: "There are eight police cars and a riot van across the street which has been cordoned off.
"With so much fire power it's serious and it's quite worrying if I'm honest being so close to home.
"Three armed officers went into the building and we've seen a negotiator in a turquoise jacket too.
"It's a scary situation and adds to the whole ongoing pandemic. There's a lot of tension at the moment and it has made the incident more profound."
Police have confirmed that they believe the ongoing incident poses no wider risk to the public.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "At about 5.05pm this afternoon police received a report of concern for the welfare of a man at an address on Osborne Terrace in Newcastle.
"Emergency services attended and found a man inside the address who was threatening to harm himself.
"Officers remain at the address to negotiate with the man in question but there is not believed to be any wider risk to the public.”
