Siege turns residents' lives upside down

By Kim Barnes BBC correspondent in Hackney

As the days go by, an armed siege in Hackney is entering the record books.

But that is of little interest to scores of residents who have had their lives turned upside down during the festive break.

Since Boxing Day 12 people have been evacuated to local B&Bs, and a further 43 people are confined to their homes.

Food and fuel from the local council have been delivered by armed officers.

Under a damp tarpaulin, marksmen train their weapons on the bedsit, spotlit at night

University student Louis Santhu, from Malaysia, was visiting his aunt when he heard the shots.

The 21-year-old thought it was a firecracker, but it was a further five days before police allowed him to leave the flat.

Now he may only leave and return under police escort.

Mr Santhu says it has been a dreadful experience, and he feels as though he himself has been under siege.

He says police in his home country would have taken action immediately.

Many more local residents and businesses have faced disruption from road closures.

A network of streets around Marvin Street - so small it is barely legible in London's A-Z - have all been cordoned off.

Shots exchanged

The Metropolitan Police say their priority is the safety of the community.

The siege began when shots were exchanged seven days ago. That came after police tried to remove a car for forensic tests.

Officers from the firearms unit SO19 are on the scene

They believe it may be connected with a shooting in Soho last August.

The man, who police have not named, began arguing with them. They called for back-up, and when it came the man began firing at them.

They returned fire, then withdrew - and the stand-off began.

It only became clear on Saturday that a second man was being held against his will in the flat.

Spotlit flat

Now scores of officers are maintaining a round-the-clock operation.

Under a damp blue tarpaulin, marksmen train their weapons on the first floor bedsit, spotlit by night.

An armoured vehicle is poised outside. Officers from the firearms unit, wearing full protection, patrol the area.

Fire crews are on standby, and at midday on New Year's Day, 9ft screens went up, shielding the scene from the media.

Police will not be drawn on how long they can carry on.

Some newspapers have been speculating the siege has already cost £300,000 but there is no sign of a speedy resolution to the stand-off, which has already dragged on through Christmas and the New Year.