The scene at Fonnereau Road today

A MAN suspected of assault by Suffolk police has finally been arrested - four-and-a-half hours after he barricaded himself inside a flat in Ipswich town centre.

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Police have said a 48-year-old Ipswich man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage following an incident in Fonnereau Road, Ipswich.

He has been quizzed at the Police Investigation Centre at Martlesham.

The area around Fonnereau Road and Crown Street, Ipswich remained cordoned off for some time while scenes of crime officers carried out their investigations.

Officers went to the premises in Fonnereau Road, near the junction with Crown Street, shortly after 6.30am to arrest the man.

However, he refused to come out of the top floor property, which neighbours the Purple Shop.

A stand-off ensued with various items, including a fridge, glass, bottles, CDs, crockery, a jester’s hat, an iron, a television and a 1,500-piece jigsaw puzzle, being thrown out of a second floor flat in the building.

At one point, the man, believed to be called Ian, made his way to the back fire exit and threatened to jump, onlookers said.

However, shortly after 11am, riot police, protected by shields, forced their way into the flat and detained the man.

He was escorted out of the building into a waiting police van.

A heavy police presence descended on the scene, including riot police, three vans and a dozen police cars. Officers were drafted to the area from across Suffolk.

Up to five ambulance service vehicles were also scrambled to the scene.

Just before 9.30am police wearing protective equipment went into the building to bring out other occupants of the flats.

Part of the road was sealed off between Crown Street and Neale Street.

A section of Crown Street was also sealed off, between Crown Pools and the top of Northgate Street, causing severe disruption to buses trying to reach the Tower Ramparts station.

These closures remained in place for some time while officers removed from the road the debris of items thrown from the window.

Police stationed themselves at the front and rear of the property.

Around a hundred startled members of the public gathered to watch the drama unfold.

A Suffolk police spokesman confirmed the man was wanted on suspicion of domestic assault.

- Were you caught up in the incident? Call the newsdesk on 01473 324790 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk