Armed police call out was false alarm

Tue, 15 Dec 2015

Police have confirmed an armed-response call out in Douglas yesterday morning was a false alarm.

Firearms officers descended on the areas of Bridge Road and Lake Road after reports of a man with a "shotgun".

It's now been revealed the item was an "extremely lifelike" stage prop - they say without being close up to it, and with no knowledge of weapons, there would have been no way of telling it was fake.

People who use props like this, or re-enactment weapons, are now being asked to consider covering them if carrying them in public so they don't cause distress.