Armed police descend on seaside town in Devon as ‘man with gun’ seen near beach

Armed police descend on seaside town in Devon as ‘man with gun’ seen near beach People took to social media to report seeing a 'man with a gun' near Back Beach in the Devon town of Teignmouth on Saturday night, sparking an armed police response Armed police descended on the seaside town of Teignmouth over the weekend following reports of threats involving a firearm. Several people on social media claimed a "man with a gun" had been seen near Back Beach on Saturday night. The reports caused alarm in the local community and sparked a response from Devon and Cornwall Police. The force said officers were called at 8.55pm following a report of an assault in Queen Street near the town centre. A "non-viable firearm" was seized, the force confirmed, though no further information was disclosed, Devon Live reports. A police armed response unit attended the scene and arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of GBH with intent, affray and possession of an imitation firearm. He has been released on police bail. The victim of the assault suffered a cut to the face, the force said. Witnesses reported a large police presence near the Ship Inn pub on Queen Street, with several saying the road was closed at the time. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We were called at 8.55pm on Saturday, May 30 following a report of an assault in Queen Street, Teignmouth. “It was further reported that a firearm was present and threats made. Armed officers attended and arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of GBH with intent, affray and possession of an imitation firearm. “He has been released on police bail. The victim of the assault suffered a cut to the face. A non-viable firearm was recovered at the scene.”