Probe launched after man dies in house siege

London: An investigation was underway yesterday after a man was shot dead following an armed siege by police at a house in the fashionable Chelsea area of London.

The incident in Markham Square, just off King's Road, began during Tuesday's evening rush hour and forced the closure of a section of Chelsea's popular shopping street.

During a stand-off lasting five hours, there were three exchanges of fire between the gunman and armed police. When officers finally stormed the building, the man was found dead inside. It was not clear if he had been shot by officers or if he had killed himself.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was investigating the fatal shooting of a man, 32.

"Metropolitan Police Service firearms officers entered a house in Markham Square and found the man," it said in a statement. "He was taken outside and given first aid and an ambulance called. The man was pronounced dead at the scene."

Police had brought in a negotiator to try to talk the gunman out. No hostages were involved. It is not known what sparked the incident although police ruled out burglary as a motive. Witnesses reported seeing the man carrying a shotgun and they said he had fired more than half a dozen shots.