POLICE wearing body armour have arrested a man after a dramatic town centre firearms swoop.


The 43-year-old was arrested on firearms offences during a six-hour operation after a raid at an address on Mold High Street on Tuesday.


Officers descended on the property just after 8am with witnesses describing a heavy police presence with forensic equipment and snifter dogs deployed.


The man has since been released on police bail as investigations continue.


One witness, who did not want to be named, said: “There were police cars and a scientific unit parked across the road. There were sniffer dogs and about 10 police officers who were in and out of the property.


“They were bringing bags out of the flat.


“I have never seen anything like that in Mold before. I was quite concerned about what was going on. Everybody was asking what was going on.”


North Wales Police conducted the joint operation, which ended just after 2pm, with officers from West Midlands Police.


Another witness said: “We saw police going in wearing body armour and there were forensic officers and plain clothed officers. There was quite a police presence.”


Mold councillor Haydn Bateman said he wanted to reassure residents that Mold was a safe place to live.


He said: “This does not happen often. It is a one-off and a very rare occurrence in our town. I would like to reassure the people of Mold. The police are on top of the incident.”


A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “A 43-year-old man from Mold was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of firearms offences following a joint operation involving officers from North Wales Police and West Midlands Police.


“The man has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.”