Man in car 'bound with canisters'

Emergency services are at the scene in Saltley, Birmingham.

Police have surrounded a man inside a car in Birmingham city centre with "canisters" surrounding his body and his hands bound.

Fire crews, an Army bomb disposal team and negotiators with West Midlands Police are at the scene in Saltley.

Ch Supt Tom Coughlan said it was unclear whether the man was conscious and whether he was there of his own accord or was a victim of crime.

A police cordon has delayed trains at the city's New Street rail station.

Some people have been evacuated from their homes and were being offered shelter at Saltley Leisure Centre by the local authority, police said.

A no-fly zone has also been imposed over the immediate area.

Trains delayed

The incident at the junction of Clarel Avenue and Landor Street started just before 1030 BST on Sunday when the car was spotted by a passing lorry driver.

Mr Coughlan added: "Inside the vehicle his hands seem to be bound and his body seems to be surrounded by what is being referred to at the moment as a number of canisters."

Inquiries have been made in an attempt to identify the registered keeper of the vehicle but police said this had not so far led to an identification of the man inside the car.

A 500m cordon is in place and although some homes have been evacuated, the area is predominantly surrounded by industrial premises, police said.

Trains between New Street and Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and Tamworth, Staffordshire were facing delays of up to 50 minutes.

The incident has affected services run by CrossCountry and Virgin Trains and caused the closure of the Wheels adventure park.