Manchester standoff prompts evacuations

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Police are involved in a standoff on the west side of Manchester that has forced the evacuation of some area residents for their safety.

Sgt. Paul Thompson told The Associated Press Friday morning that that the standoff has been going on since about 10 p.m. Thursday. A SWAT team is on the scene but no shots have been fired.

The Union Leader reports that the confrontation began as police tried to speak to a man at a Main Street residence about a 7-year-old child.

Police Chief David Mara says the man became agitated and started waving a firearm.

Officers backed off and surrounded the site. Main Street was closed from West High School to Sullivan Street and several nearby streets were cordoned off. It wasn't clear how many homes were evacuated.

No other details were immediately available. Thompson says more information would be released later.