Student's fake machete triggers police manhunt in Norwich

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/19/students-fake-machete-police-manhunt-norwich

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A student with a toy weapon sparked a manhunt involving armed officers and a police helicopter in Norwich on Wednesday evening.

Firearms officers and police dogs were deployed to Mousehold Heath in Norwich after reports of a man carrying a sword at 5.50pm on Wednesday.

But the teams were stood down after about an hour, when the suspect’s mother rang Norfolk police’s control room.

She told the force that her 18-year-old son was filming for a college project and the weapon was a fake machete.

Supt Stuart Gunn said: “We would kindly ask members of the public if they are planning any sort of activity or filming in a public place that may prompt concern amongst the public and, consequently, trigger any police activity, to call us in advance so that we can give suitable advice.”

He added: “If the police receive reports of what is believed to be a weapon, openly displayed in public places or used in an inappropriate manner then we need to react promptly to the information that we are given at the time.”