UPDATE 4.40pm: Police have charged a 35-year-old Rocherlea man in connection to the 41-hour stand-off incident at Cedar Street, Newnham. He was interviewed by Launceston CIB and charged with a number of counts, including breaching a family violence order, unlawful possession, resisting police, and drug and firearms offences. Police will allege that after the arrest, a loaded .22-calibre revolver was found in the home. He will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at 11.30am on Thursday. UPDATE 11.45AM: By PATRICK BILLINGS An armed man threatened special operations police with shards of glass when they entered his Newnham home to end a 41-hour siege, police said today. Northern Police Commander Brett Smith said no officers were hurt in the take down but the man suffered some non-life threatening injuries. He said the 35-year-old was refusing medical help. Police stormed the Cedar Street residence about 3am to end the siege that began on Monday morning following a domestic dispute. Police are searching the home for a firearm after recovering a handgun from the property on Monday, they said. The man had initially kept his partner and two children “under threat” for several hours when the siege began but they left the property unharmed. Up to 40 police ranging from uniform officers to Special Operations Group members, who arrived in the heavily armoured Bearcat vehicle, were involved. Commander Smith thanked the public particularly Cedar Street and Laver Grove residents for their patience. Four properties were evacuated for the entire siege with occupants unable to return until the stand-off finished. Some properties were used by police during the operation. UPDATE 7.30AM: A 35-year-old man has been taken into custody following a 41-hour stand off with police in Cedar Street at Newnham. The siege ended just before 3am when armed police and members of the special operations group gained entry into the man's home and placed him under arrest. Police say that an investigation into the incident is still ongoing and charges are pending. ''This incident caused significant public disruption and police would like to thank local residents for their patience and cooperation,'' Senior Sergeant Dean McMahon said. ''Police would like to reassure the public that they had full control of this situation and the safety of the public including the male was at the forefront of the resolution strategy employed by police.'' Just before 2.50am, witnesses say that loud banging was heard, similar to that of a door being kicked in. This was followed by what sounded like a single male shouting for about 20 seconds. This gradually dissipated after about a minute before police inside the property radioed that a suspect was in custody. The man was taken away just before 3.30am after being assessed by paramedics. Northern Police Commander Brett Smith will hold a media conference this morning. An intensive police operation that began 10am Monday morning when the man holed himself up in the home at first with his partner and two children. The woman and children later exited the property unharmed. Cedar Street has been in lockdown since then with neighbours evacuated from their homes. MORE TO COME UPDATE 10PM: A Newnham siege shows no sign of abating since it began more than 36 hours ago. A 35-year-old man had been holed up in his Cedar Street home with a possible firearm since Monday 10am. Police have been negotiating with him since the incident was triggered by a domestic dispute. The man’s partner and her two children were at first held under threat before leaving the property unharmed yesterday, police said. A crowd of onlookers were again present at the scene today before being moved on by police. Cedar Street remains blocked off and residents must pass police check points and supply identification to enter. Police have given no sign of how long it is expected to last only saying they are willing wait for as long as it takes to secure a peaceful outcome Northern Commander Brett Smith held a press conference at noon where he apologised to residents for the impact it was having on day to day life It’s unclear what demands if any the man has made. UPDATE 4.50pm: Police continue to bunker down in Cedar Street, Newnham, as an armed suburban siege extends beyond 30 hours. Northern Tasmania Police Commander Brett Smith said he was hopeful a resolution could be reached by the end of today, but reiterated police would wait for as long at it took to get a peaceful outcome. Residents of Cedar Street and the nearby Laver Grove are adjusting to life surrounded by an intensive police operation, which included a checkpoint of cars coming in and out. Residents from four properties surrounding the siege home are unable to return to their houses, other than to pick up a few items. Special Operations Group members remain on site, and about 2pm on Tuesday, one officer was aiming his rifle in the direction of the home, however the scene remained calm. Police said they had been in constant contact with the 35-year-old man who had holed himself up in his two-storey home. UPDATE 3pm: Police have set up a phone line for Cedar Street-Laver Grove residents who are seeking information about the incident that is still ongoing at Newnham. Residents can contact Senior Constable Annabel Shegog on 6777 3867. Police have requested that only residents of the area and their families who have questions or concerns about the incident call the above number. UPDATE 12.40PM: TASMANIA Police Northern Commander Brett Smith said he is prepared to let a siege in Newnham go on "as long as it takes''. The stand-off between police and a 35-year-old gunman in Cedar Street has waged on for more than 24 hours. Commander Smith said police have had constant communication with the man since the incident began yesterday morning. The gunman also been in contact with people outside his home. He said police held concerns for the man's welfare and believe patience is the key to ending the siege. Commander Smith has "guaranteed'' the gunman's safety if he gives himself up to police. ''We won't be taking any actions that puts anyone's life at risk... including the man's,'' he said. About 35 armed police officers - including special operations group members - remain on scene. UPDATE: 8.10am: Northern Commander Brett Smith this morning said that police was maintaining the same strategy employed yesterday morning but was exploring several other resolution options. He said police was committed to ensuring that the man left the property in a safe and appropriate way. Uniform and specialist police resources remain engaged in the containment of the residence, Commander Smith said. Overnight, police negotiators continued dialog with the man, however a resolution has not yet been reached. Commander Smith said police will continue negotiating with the man, who remains in the residence alone. “In situations like this, negotiation is the primary resolution strategy and seeking a peaceful resolution without injury to anyone,'' he said. “The safety of the community, including the man involved is at the forefront of any decision making process or resolution strategy employed by police. “I also thank those members of the community who have been affected by the disruption this incident has caused.” Cedar Street is still closed and police urge members of the public to avoid this area until the conclusion of the incident. He said media would be updated on the siege before midday if the man had not left the property by then. PATRICK BILLINGS UPDATE 12.00AM: The stand off is continuing albeit in a more subdued fashion as most of Cedar Street Newnham calls it a night. Police remain outside the home negotiating with the 35-year-old man holed up in the property with a suspected firearm. Special operations officers continue to be on stand by as the siege runs into its 14th hour. Recap: About 10am police respond to a domestic incident on Cedar Street involving a man with a suspected firearm and his partner and two children “under threat” in their home. The street is closed off and the elite special operations group of Tasmania Police and their armoured vehicle’s called in. 12:30pm The mother and two children leave the property unharmed as police continue negotiations with the man. 1:30pm Inspector Michael Johnston gives a press conference stating police will negotiate for as it long as it takes to resolve the incident peacefully. 4pm Northern Commander Brett Smith confirms a small firearm was retrieved from the property and reaffirms police wish to end the stand-off off peacefully. 7pm: Police reverse a divisional van into the garage of the property. The man’s father arrives and remonstrates with police. 12am: Police switch on bright lights outside the man’s home. PATRICK BILLINGS' UPDATE 2.30PM: Police say a Newnham siege involving a man, believed to be armed, was triggered by a domestic incident. Police won't reveal how a woman and two children that had been in the home "under threat" had been removed about 12.30pm but confirmed they were now safe. The stand off began about 9.30am in Cedar Street, which has been blocked off and four neighbouring properties evacuated. Police are continuing to negotiate with the man, who is refusing to leave. Inspector of Launceston uniform police Michael Johnston addressed the media pack just after 2pm. Inspector Johnston said police were seeking a peaceful resolution to the siege and were willing to negotiate for as long as it took. He would not say if the man was demanding anything of police. About 30 police officers including members of the special operations group are involved in the stand off. Police's armoured Bearcat vehicle is also on the scene, driven up from Hobart this morning This is the second time Cedar Street has been shutdown because of a siege in six months. UPDATE 1.55PM: Police say that a woman and two children held during an armed siege at Newnham have safely exited the home. Police say that a 35-year-old man is still inside the residence and is believed to be armed. Initially, the woman and the two children were being held under threat. When police arrived just after 9.30pm this morning, they were unable to negotiate entry. The woman and the children left the house about 12.20pm. Negotiations are continuing with the man, who remains inside the residence alone. UPDATE 12.45pm: Members of Tasmania Police's elite special operations group are on standby at a siege in Newnham. A man believed to be armed has barricaded himself into his Cedar Street home with a woman and two children, who police say are not in immediate danger. Members of Launceston uniform police and CIB are also at the scene along with paramedics and fire crews. Cedar Street has been blocked off at both ends and nearby residents evacuated from their homes. This is the second siege in the street since August. One resident temporarily blocked from the street spoke of her frustration at not being able to attend to her ill husband at home, Police are yet to address media at the scene but asked that images that could identify members be of the SOG not be used. The incident has been going for more than an hour. EARLIER: A Newnham street has been closed to the public after a man barricaded himself inside his home. Police believe the man is armed. His partner and two children are also inside the Cedar Street property, but they are safe and are not believed to be in immediate danger. Several neighbouring homes have also been evacuated as a precaution.
A supplied photo of the Cedar Street home, with the alleged offender in the window of the property, with members of the special operations group watching on.
UPDATE 4.40pm:
Police have charged a 35-year-old Rocherlea man in connection to the 41-hour stand-off incident at Cedar Street, Newnham.
He was interviewed by Launceston CIB and charged with a number of counts, including breaching a family violence order, unlawful possession, resisting police, and drug and firearms offences.
Police will allege that after the arrest, a loaded .22-calibre revolver was found in the home.
He will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court at 11.30am on Thursday.
UPDATE 11.45AM:
By PATRICK BILLINGS
An armed man threatened special operations police with shards of glass when they entered his Newnham home to end a 41-hour siege, police said today.
Northern Police Commander Brett Smith said no officers were hurt in the take down but the man suffered some non-life threatening injuries.
He said the 35-year-old was refusing medical help.
VIDEO, PHOTOS, UPDATE 4.40pm: An armed man threatened special operations police with shards of glass when they entered his Newnham home to end a 41-hour siege, police said today.
Police stormed the Cedar Street residence about 3am to end the siege that began on Monday morning following a domestic dispute.
Police are searching the home for a firearm after recovering a handgun from the property on Monday, they said.
The man had initially kept his partner and two children “under threat” for several hours when the siege began but they left the property unharmed.
Up to 40 police ranging from uniform officers to Special Operations Group members, who arrived in the heavily armoured Bearcat vehicle, were involved.
Commander Smith thanked the public particularly Cedar Street and Laver Grove residents for their patience.
Four properties were evacuated for the entire siege with occupants unable to return until the stand-off finished.
Some properties were used by police during the operation.
UPDATE 7.30AM:
A 35-year-old man has been taken into custody following a 41-hour stand off with police in Cedar Street at Newnham.
The siege ended just before 3am when armed police and members of the special operations group gained entry into the man's home and placed him under arrest.
Police say that an investigation into the incident is still ongoing and charges are pending.
''This incident caused significant public disruption and police would like to thank local residents for their patience and cooperation,'' Senior Sergeant Dean McMahon said.
''Police would like to reassure the public that they had full control of this situation and the safety of the public including the male was at the forefront of the resolution strategy employed by police.''
Just before 2.50am, witnesses say that loud banging was heard, similar to that of a door being kicked in.
This was followed by what sounded like a single male shouting for about 20 seconds. This gradually dissipated after about a minute before police inside the property radioed that a suspect was in custody.
The man was taken away just before 3.30am after being assessed by paramedics.
Northern Police Commander Brett Smith will hold a media conference this morning.
An intensive police operation that began 10am Monday morning when the man holed himself up in the home at first with his partner and two children.
The woman and children later exited the property unharmed.
Cedar Street has been in lockdown since then with neighbours evacuated from their homes.
MORE TO COME
UPDATE 10PM:
A Newnham siege shows no sign of abating since it began more than 36 hours ago.
A 35-year-old man had been holed up in his Cedar Street home with a possible firearm since Monday 10am.
Police have been negotiating with him since the incident was triggered by a domestic dispute.
The man’s partner and her two children were at first held under threat before leaving the property unharmed yesterday, police said.
A crowd of onlookers were again present at the scene today before being moved on by police.
Cedar Street remains blocked off and residents must pass police check points and supply identification to enter.
Police have given no sign of how long it is expected to last only saying they are willing wait for as long as it takes to secure a peaceful outcome
Northern Commander Brett Smith held a press conference at noon where he apologised to residents for the impact it was having on day to day life
It’s unclear what demands if any the man has made.
UPDATE 4.50pm:
Police continue to bunker down in Cedar Street, Newnham, as an armed suburban siege extends beyond 30 hours.
Northern Tasmania Police Commander Brett Smith said he was hopeful a resolution could be reached by the end of today, but reiterated police would wait for as long at it took to get a peaceful outcome.
Residents of Cedar Street and the nearby Laver Grove are adjusting to life surrounded by an intensive police operation, which included a checkpoint of cars coming in and out.
Residents from four properties surrounding the siege home are unable to return to their houses, other than to pick up a few items.
Special Operations Group members remain on site, and about 2pm on Tuesday, one officer was aiming his rifle in the direction of the home, however the scene remained calm.
Police said they had been in constant contact with the 35-year-old man who had holed himself up in his two-storey home.
UPDATE 3pm:
Police have set up a phone line for Cedar Street-Laver Grove residents who are seeking information about the incident that is still ongoing at Newnham.
Residents can contact Senior Constable Annabel Shegog on 6777 3867.
Police have requested that only residents of the area and their families who have questions or concerns about the incident call the above number.
UPDATE 12.40PM:
TASMANIA Police Northern Commander Brett Smith said he is prepared to let a siege in Newnham go on "as long as it takes''.
The stand-off between police and a 35-year-old gunman in Cedar Street has waged on for more than 24 hours.
VIDEO, PHOTOS, UPDATE 4.40pm: An armed man threatened special operations police with shards of glass when they entered his Newnham home to end a 41-hour siege, police said today.
Northern Commander Brett Smith this morning said that police was maintaining the same strategy employed yesterday morning but was exploring several other resolution options.
He said police was committed to ensuring that the man left the property in a safe and appropriate way.
Uniform and specialist police resources remain engaged in the containment of the residence, Commander Smith said.
Overnight, police negotiators continued dialog with the man, however a resolution has not yet been reached.
VIDEO, PHOTOS, UPDATE 4.40pm: An armed man threatened special operations police with shards of glass when they entered his Newnham home to end a 41-hour siege, police said today.
About 10am police respond to a domestic incident on Cedar Street involving a man with a suspected firearm and his partner and two children “under threat” in their home. The street is closed off and the elite special operations group of Tasmania Police and their armoured vehicle’s called in.
12:30pm The mother and two children leave the property unharmed as police continue negotiations with the man.
1:30pm Inspector Michael Johnston gives a press conference stating police will negotiate for as it long as it takes to resolve the incident peacefully.
4pm Northern Commander Brett Smith confirms a small firearm was retrieved from the property and reaffirms police wish to end the stand-off off peacefully.
7pm: Police reverse a divisional van into the garage of the property.
The man’s father arrives and remonstrates with police.
12am: Police switch on bright lights outside the man’s home.
PATRICK BILLINGS' UPDATE 2.30PM:
Police say a Newnham siege involving a man, believed to be armed, was triggered by a domestic incident.
Police won't reveal how a woman and two children that had been in the home "under threat" had been removed about 12.30pm but confirmed they were now safe.
The stand off began about 9.30am in Cedar Street, which has been blocked off and four neighbouring properties evacuated.
Police are continuing to negotiate with the man, who is refusing to leave.
Inspector of Launceston uniform police Michael Johnston addressed the media pack just after 2pm.
Inspector Johnston said police were seeking a peaceful resolution to the siege and were willing to negotiate for as long as it took.
He would not say if the man was demanding anything of police.
About 30 police officers including members of the special operations group are involved in the stand off.
Police's armoured Bearcat vehicle is also on the scene, driven up from Hobart this morning
This is the second time Cedar Street has been shutdown because of a siege in six months.
Special operations group members in Cedar Street.
UPDATE 1.55PM: Police say that a woman and two children held during an armed siege at Newnham have safely exited the home.
Police say that a 35-year-old man is still inside the residence and is believed to be armed.
Initially, the woman and the two children were being held under threat. When police arrived just after 9.30pm this morning, they were unable to negotiate entry.
The woman and the children left the house about 12.20pm.
Negotiations are continuing with the man, who remains inside the residence alone.
VIDEO, PHOTOS, UPDATE 4.40pm: An armed man threatened special operations police with shards of glass when they entered his Newnham home to end a 41-hour siege, police said today.
UPDATE 12.45pm: Members of Tasmania Police's elite special operations group are on standby at a siege in Newnham.
A man believed to be armed has barricaded himself into his Cedar Street home with a woman and two children, who police say are not in immediate danger.
Members of Launceston uniform police and CIB are also at the scene along with paramedics and fire crews.
Cedar Street has been blocked off at both ends and nearby residents evacuated from their homes.
This is the second siege in the street since August.
