Armed siege police remain 'patient'

About 50 armed officers are still at the scene

The standoff between police and a gunman in a siege in east London has entered its 11th day - matching the city's previous longest siege.

The man is holding another man hostage in the flat on Graham Road, in Hackney.

In 1984 the siege of the Libyan Embassy in London lasted 11 days.

Negotiators are continuing their attempts to persuade the man to give himself up.

'Be patient'

Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Quick said it was a good sign that the gunman had remained in contact with police.

"The strategy remains the same.

"The man is talking to us. That's a good sign. We must be patient.

The gunman hauls up a food package by rope

"We have to try and persuade him to see sense and hopefully come out of those premises and release the man he's holding in the flat."

On Saturday police said negotiations had been "relatively productive" and they were still determined to bring the siege to a peaceful end.

Scotland Yard apologised for the "significant disruption" to people living near the flat.

Mr Quick said some progress had been made in organising the return of people who had to leave their homes due to the siege.

But more than 40 people remain confined to their homes and are being given essential supplies by Hackney Council.

Firearms specialists are among more than 50 officers taking part in the operation.

Shots fired

It is thought that the man is still armed, although an imitation firearm was thrown out of the flat earlier in the week.

Power to the flat has been cut off but deliveries to the gunman and his hostage of food parcels are expected to continue.

The siege began when officers tried to remove a car from outside the flat for forensic tests.

Shots were fired after a man came to the window of the flat and argued with them.