A woman has told of her fear after armed police attended a residential Swindon street following reports of a man with a possible machete.
Several police vehicles and armed officers responded to a report at around 3.20pm that two people - one reportedly seen carrying a baton or machete - entered a building on Cunningham Road on Saturday, September 7.
An eyewitness and resident said: “I have two young children and it did cross my mind at the time that if there was someone on the run they could run into our house and it could end badly.
“So I locked myself and my kids in the bedroom.
“The policeman told my partner it's nothing to worry about. Yet three armed officers kneeling on the pavement, a dog unit and multiple police vehicles didn't fill us with confidence.
She added: “It's been on the whole a quiet neighbourhood without much trouble. Seeing and hearing what was happening made me feel on edge and I locked the back and front doors.”
A second eyewitness described the events: “At 15:56 there were about two armed police officers who walked back and forth Cunningham Road.
“Before then a group of armed police officers holding rifles began to raid my neighbour's house.
“After a few minutes, the armed police officers arrested two men in my neighbour's house, the first looking around late 20s and the second one looking in his early 20s.
“Afterwards, the two arrested men and the mother were escorted by the police officers to the end of the road.
“The younger man was released and returned back to the house along with the mother.
“The arrested man was only wearing pants.”
A Wiltshire Police spokesperson confirmed two people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
They added: "However, they were subsequently de-arrested after being spoken to by officers.
"There were no reported injuries. Our enquiries are ongoing.
"We would like to hear from anyone who was in the Cunningham Road area at the time on Saturday who may have witnessed what took place.
"If you can help, please contact us on 101 quoting log 197 of September 7.
"Alternatively you can leave information anonymously by calling 0800 555111 "In an emergency always call 999."
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