Officers taped off streets in Croydon around 9am GMT today after receiving reports that the individual was abusing locals and threatening to kill people.

Armed police are locked in a stand-off with a man said to have a gun in Croydon, south London — officers currently surrounded a red car, in which the man is barricaded.
"Police were called at 8.32am on Tuesday 19 March, by a man who stated he would kill people. Officers attended Pagehurst Road near the junction with Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe. A man was found in a car at the location and when approached he intimated he had a firearm. Armed officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade have attended the scene. Officers are attempting to peacefully resolve the situation," the Metropolitan Police said.

​One resident who saw police and the "gunman" negotiating described the scene to MyLondon.
"I live in the building opposite and I stepped out to go to the park across the street with my dog and on the way back the officers had closed off [part of the road] and were telling people to get back. They said ‘for your own safety go back'. I asked them if it was a bomb and they told me it wasn't. Armed police officers turned up and then more police officers with a dog. I could see the red car was surrounded by police vehicles as well as several armed officers. I noticed the man opening the car door a few inches, probably to speak back to the police," he said.

​​Mario Creatura, councillor for Coulsdon Town and Parliamentary candidate for Croydon Central, has urged residents to avoid the area.        Source: sputniknews.com