Armed Police surrounded a house in St. George's for six hours this afternoon.

Speaking after the incident ended peacefully around 7.15 p.m., Inspector Calvin Smith said: "This afternoon at about 1.15 p.m. officers from our Serious Crimes Unit were conducting inquiries into a serious ongoing investigation."

Insp. Smith said that as a result of that investigation a suspect, who was thought to be armed, was held within the residence in Hidden Valley.

Police cordoned off the area and conducted negotiations. That went on for several hours and ended with a successful negotiation.The officer said that two persons – one of whom was thought to be in possession of a firearm - were arrested, a 21-year-old Pembroke man and a 23-year-old St. George’s woman.

He refused to comment on whether it was a hostage situation with the man holding the woman – said by neighbours to be the suspect’s girlfriend – at gunpoint.

Insp. Smith confirmed that no shots were fired and no one was hurt, saying shortly after the arrests that officers were still searching the residence for the firearm in question.

A man was seen on the first floor balcony of the house for a brief period towards the end of the incident with his hands on his head as the armed officers pointed their weapons at him.

Officers had earlier used a loudspeaker to communicate with those inside the house and asked for the person or persons inside to come out peacefully.

For the full story, see Monday's edition of The Royal Gazette.