Residents have spoken of their shock after police armed with guns, dogs and riot shields descended on their street.
People living on Moorhead in Cowgate say armed officers were first spotted in the cul-de-sac on Wednesday, cordoning off a long row of houses.
Police were seen in the area again on Thursday, before swooping on one home in a dramatic Friday night raid.
Witnesses claim a man was taken away by police after they descended on the street at around 7.10pm.
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Armed police stayed in the street for a further 90 minutes and remained outside one property, while a small number of neighbours were told to leave their homes.
At around 7.30pm, officers appeared to break down the door of the building before entering.
One mum, who lives nearby, was watching television with her children when she heard the alarming noise.
"We just heard 'armed police, open up' - we opened the curtains and saw there were about 10 guns pointing towards that house," she said.
"It was a bit of a shock."
Another woman said: “It was like watching Line of Duty. I’d just gone out to get some ice cream and I came back and there were armed police.
"When I came down there was just two of the cars but then more cars full of the armed ones arrived.”
Gathered in the street to watch the action, locals were left confused as to what had happened.
One man said: "I've got absolutely no idea what has happened."
And a couple who had left the house in their pyjamas added: "The police haven't told us anything."
A Northumbria Police spokesperson confirmed officers were dealing with "an incident" but gave no further details.
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