Police in the British capital shot and killed a man who was allegedly attempting to enter a residence armed with a crossbow in the early hours of Tuesday.

Officers were dispatched to an address in Bywater Place in southeast London at approximately 4.55 a.m. local time (11.55 p.m. Monday ET) after residents reported that a man armed with weapons, including a crossbow, was attempting to force his way in, according to the city’s Metropolitan Police.

The individual, who police believe was in his 30s, “was threatening to harm residents inside the address,” according to a statement.

“Local officers attended and attempted to speak to the man but, after being threatened, armed officers were called and quickly attended the scene,” the police said.

“The man had gotten inside the property, and a police firearm was discharged,” the statement says.

Police and paramedics administered first aid, but the guy died at the scene, according to the police, who also reported that two people at the residence sustained minor injuries.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an independent inquiry into the event, and the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards has been notified, according to the statement.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, who oversees policing in Southwark, the borough where the event happened, expressed sympathy for those impacted.

“I understand the local community will be concerned about the events that have taken place this morning,” Adjei-Addoh told reporters. Police in England and Wales seldom shoot suspects dead.

Figures compiled by the charity Inquest show that there were 27 fatal police shootings in England and Wales between 2013 and 2023.

Of that number, 13 were carried out by the Metropolitan Police, which is the largest force in the UK.