Guests said they were told not to leave the hotel as police rushed to the hotel
21:47, 09 May 2026Updated 21:53, 09 May 2026
Riot police on a cherry picker outside the Ropewalks Hotel
Armed police descended on a city centre hotel as they arrested a man and recovered a sword after a stand-off. Emergency services rushed to the Ropewalks Hotel on Seel Street at around 4pm on Saturday, May 9 following reports a missing man had been seen in the area.
When Merseyside Police officers arrived at the hotel, the man made threats from inside a hotel room before officers put a containment in place as a precaution while they engaged with the man. Matrix officers dressed in riot gear used a Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service cherry picker to barricade the street-facing window while officers were believed to have been outside the hotel room dealing with the man.
Armed police later arrived at the scene while officers cordoned off the street from Slater Street to the hotel. Several Matrix vehicles and unmarked police cars filled the street along with fire engines.
The stand-off lasted until around 8pm when officers arrested a 35-year-old man from Tuebrook and a sword was recovered from the scene.
A spokesperson for the force said no one was injured in the incident. The man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, affray, possession of a bladed article and attempted section 18 wounding.
He has been taken into custody to be interviewed.
Armed police entering Ropewalks Hotel on Seel Street
Guests leaving the hotel following the incident explained how they had been forced to stay in their rooms for the duraiton of the incident.
One person said: “We didn’t have a clue what was going on and we were told we couldn’t leave. We’re just glad it’s over.”
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We would like to thank members of the public for their patience while this matter was dealt with.”
In a statement to the ECHO, a spokesperson for the Ropewalks Hotel said: “We can confirm that emergency services attended the hotel today in response to a welfare concern involving a guest.
The cordon on Seel Street(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
“Our priority throughout has been the safety and wellbeing of the individual concerned, our other guests, our team and members of the public. We have been working closely with Merseyside Police and the relevant emergency services to ensure the guest receives the appropriate care and support.
“As this is a sensitive welfare matter, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further on the individual circumstances. We ask that the guest’s privacy and dignity be respected at this time.
“We are grateful to the emergency services for their professionalism and support and we apologise to our guests, neighbours and members of the public for any disruption caused while the matter is being safely managed.”