Man Charged After Knife Siege

A man's been charged after a near two hour stand-off with riot police in Markinch late last night.

The 27-year-old threatened to harm his ex-girlfriend and himself with a knife, before threatening the emergency services and claiming he would set fire to the property on School Street.

Negotiators talked him down at around 12.15am after a stand-off with the police 'public order trained officers', with reports of around 12 vehicles and a helicopter deployed, as well as fire and ambulance services and the gas board. 

The male is expected to appear later at Kirkcaldy Sheriff court, charged with breach of the peace.

A police spokeswoman said:  "Police in Fife were called to a domestic incident at an address in School Street, Markinch, last night (Sunday, February 8) at around 10.30pm.  When police attended a 27-year-old man barricaded himself in the house and threatened to harm himself and the attending officers with a knife.  

"Additional units were called in as support, including public order trained officers and licensed force negotiators.  The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service were also in attendance.  The man surrendered to police at around 12.15am and the incident concluded peacefully."

A police spokeswoman said:  "Police in Fife were called to a domestic incident at an address in School Street, Markinch, last night (Sunday, February 8) at around 10.30pm.  When police attended a 27-year-old man barricaded himself in the house and threatened to harm himself and the attending officers with a knife.  

"Additional units were called in as support, including public order trained officers and licensed force negotiators.  The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service were also in attendance. 

"The man surrendered to police at around 12.15am and the incident concluded peacefully.  He will was charged under Section 38 of Criminal Justice and Licensing Act 2010 and will appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court today."