AN INTELLIGENCE-LED operation led to the dramatic arrest of two men by armed police earlier today (Friday, August 8).
The men were arrested at Wolviston Services, on the A689 near to Billingham, and have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.
The moment on captured by camera by Northern Echo photographer Tom Banks who was in the area when he was alerted by a police helicopter and saw the armed police.
A Durham Police spokesman said: "An intelligence-led operation resulted in an Audi A3 car being stopped and seized by police on the A689 this morning, near Wolviston services. Armed officers from the joint Cleveland Durham Specialist Operations Unit were deployed as part of the police activity.
“Two men from the Sunderland area, aged 36 and 43 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and were initially held in custody at Hartlepool police station. They are now being transferred across to the Durham Constabulary area for questioning.”
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