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A man who threatened to douse police with acid has been arrested following a standoff with armed police in Thames early this morning.
Inspector John Kelly said police found the man in breach of his bail before 1am.
"They have gone to arrest him, a struggle has developed and OC spray was used but to no avail. The man has then secured himself in his house bus threatening to throw acid on Police if they approached," Mr Kelly said.
He said the man was known to police who believed he had access to firearms.
Mr Kelly said a cordon was set-up and the Armed Offenders Squad was called in. He said police negotiators tried to persuade the man to give himself up but were not successful.
"When negotiations failed CS gas was fired into the bus in order to coerce the man out, succumbing to the effects of the gas the man did indeed come out and was arrested," said Mr Kelly.
"A search of the house bus is being carried out at present and we can confirm some acid and a number of knives have been discovered," he said.
Mr Kelly said the man was still being interviewed by police.
- NZHERALD STAFF
