A man carrying a ‘suspected weapon’ near a pre-school prompted a lockdown at the establishment. Police arrested the man for affray outside a pre-school in Newcastle and he is currently in custody. Additional patrols were conducted by officers near the Little Learners NE pre-school at The Blakelaw Centre following the incident. Concerned parents alerted the staff after noticing the man behaving suspiciously.

Northumbria Police received a report of suspicious activity on Binswood Avenue in Newcastle just after 9 am on Tuesday. The man, believed to be carrying a suspected weapon, was spotted near the building. Law enforcement officers swiftly responded, apprehending a 33-year-old man for suspected affray. The police presence was increased in the area for several hours to ensure public safety.

Although the pre-school voluntarily placed itself in lockdown, there were no threats made to the children, and the suspect did not attempt to enter the children’s area. Northumbria Police urged anyone with concerns to approach on-duty officers or contact them directly. Individuals with information on the incident were encouraged to reach out to Northumbria Police through social media, live chat, or report forms on the Force’s website. Alternatively, they could call 101 and reference the incident with number NP-20260303-0264.