Philadelphia shooting: Gunman in stand-off with police after injuring six

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) -Police are locked in a lengthy stand-off with a gunman who injured at least six officers during a shootout in the US city of Philadelphia.

A gun battle broke out between police and a male shooter at around 04:30 local time.

The officers were serving a drugs warrant at a home in Philadelphia’s Nicetown-Tiago neighbourhood when the gunman opened fire.

Eight hours on, Philadelphia Police say the armed suspect is yet to surrender.

A SWAT team rescued two officers and three others who were trapped inside the home with the gunman, police said.

Police Commissioner Richard Ross said the SWAT team “were able to use stealth” to safely evacuate the officers from a “hostage situation”.

Mr Ross said the trapped officers were holding people they arrested during the initial raid.

The gunman fired on the SWAT team’s truck outside the home, where police wearing bulletproof vests took cover behind cars with guns drawn.

 

(Agencies)