Truck ‘smashed into police roadblock’ near Taunton Royal Marines …
A ‘large military truck’ allegedly smashed through a police roadblock near the Royal Marines base in Taunton shortly before lorry drivers staged a “fantastic” intervention on the M5 yesterday (Sunday, September 10), it has emerged.
Late last night, Avon and Somerset Police said that a 41-year-old man had been arrested “following a series of incidents in the Taunton area” on Sunday afternoon. The incidents included a “large military truck” being driven through a police roadblock in the Norton Fitzwarren area, said police.
RM Norton Manor Camp, home of the 40 Commando Royal Marines, is in Norton Fitzwarren. Police said they were sent to an undisclosed address in Norton Fitzwarren following a report that a man was making threats and had caused damage to property.
In a statement released on its website, Avon and Somerset Police said: “A 41-year-old man has been arrested following a series of incidents in the Taunton area this afternoon (Sunday 10 September). Officers were deployed to an address in Norton Fitzwarren at around 4.40pm following a report a man was making threats to the occupant and had caused damage to the property.
“The man left the address in a large military truck when officers arrived before driving the vehicle into two police cars blocking the road, causing them extensive damage. Thankfully, no police officers or members of the public were hurt in the incident.
“The man subsequently drove to the A361 M5 overbridge where he exited the vehicle and climbed over the railings, leading the motorway to be closed in both directions. The man was arrested 25 minutes later and he currently remains in police custody.”
Earlier that evening, The National Police Air Service (NPAS) revealed that quick-thinking lorry drivers helped with an “excellent intervention” on the M5 near Taunton at around 5.20pm. The drivers parked their HGVs underneath an overbridge on the M5 to help safeguard a “person in crisis”.
In a post on X, the social media website formerly know as twitter, an NPAS spokesperson said: “We have deployed our Exeter aircraft to assist @ASPolice with a person in crisis on the #M5 at #Taunton. Excellent intervention by officers on scene means male is now safe. Fantastic to see #HGV drivers offering to help with their lorries to safeguard the person – thank you.”
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References
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