Police incident at Royal United Hospital
Reports suggest the site has been put into lockdown
Last updated 2nd Feb 2024
Avon and Somerset Police are dealing with an incident near the Royal United Hospital in Bath, which has reportedly put the site into lockdown.
Official details on what has happened are currently limited, but the force first revealed they were on the scene in a post on X, at 11:46am this morning.
They are asking people to avoid the area as a precaution.
Some posts online suggest a person was on site with a knife, while others have reported seeing armed police.
Officers say people can expected an increased police presence in the area.
In a statement, they have confirmed they are yet to identify a man who was spotted carrying something - which reports suggest could have been a knife - with that article also yet to be determined.
Officers said: "We have been responding to an incident in the vicinity of Royal United Hospital, in Bath, this morning (Friday 2 February).
"Hospital staff contacted the police at approximately 9.45am to report they had received a telephone call from an unknown male who made verbal threats.
"A police presence was already at the hospital for an unrelated matter, who liaised with hospital security teams.
"A second call making verbal threats was received at about 10.15am and further officers were also dispatched to attend the scene, including firearms officers.
"We received a report of a man carrying an item, which there were concerns could have been a bladed weapon, in the vicinity of the hospital at approximately 10.35am, but at this moment in time that has not been confirmed. Enquiries are ongoing to identify the man in question to establish what they were in possession of.
"The Royal United Hospital decided as a precaution to go into a lockdown. We advised a local primary school to also go into lockdown as a precaution too, but both have now been lifted.
"We’d like to reassure the public that there have been no reported injuries and a police presence remains in the area."