Loughborough town centre was thrown into chaos today after a series of incidents prompted a major emergency response.
At approximately noon, reports emerged of a man on a flat roof adjacent to flats on Market Street, displaying concerning behaviour. Witnesses described the individual as wearing an all-black tracksuit with his hood up and what appeared to be a balaclava. Some bystanders speculated that he had weapons or explosives strapped to his chest, though these claims were unverified.
In response, Leicestershire Police set up a cordon around Frederick Street, Packe Street, and Granby Street, advising the public to avoid the area. The man on the roof and others were later arrested on suspicion of being a public nuisance. In a statement posted on Facebook, Charnwood Police said:
“NEWS – An area in Loughborough town centre has been cordoned off after a report was received around midday today (Monday 31 March) concerned for the behaviour of a man.
The man was seen on a flat roof adjacent to some flats in Market Street. Concerns were raised in relation to his behaviour.
In the interests of public safety, a cordon has been put in place in the Frederick Street/Packe Street and Granby Street area.
People are being advised to avoid the area while the emergency services deal with the incident.
A man has since been arrested on suspicion of being a public nuisance and is in custody.”
Meanwhile, a gas leak was reported at the German Doner Kebab restaurant in the town centre, leading to the evacuation of the establishment and surrounding premises. Emergency services attended the scene to manage the situation and ensure public safety.
Further developments revealed that one of the individuals on the roof was a social media content creator attempting to gain attention. The suspected “bombs” or “knives” were, in fact, bottles of Magnum – a popular Jamaican tonic wine, and he was wearing a Jamaican flag as a cape. This incident underscores the potential consequences of seeking online fame through reckless behaviour and serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible conduct in public spaces. It is still unclear exactly how many people were involved in this incident and if all involved have been identified/caught.
These events come just days after a stabbing in Loughborough town centre on 27 March, raising further concerns about disturbances in the area. While Loughborough is typically known as a quieter town, the past week has seen an increase in emergency incidents, prompting discussions on public safety and the impact of social media-driven stunts.
