Officers were called to Markham Square after reports of shots being fired from a house there shortly before 5 p.m., Britain's Metropolitan police said.

Police believe the officers were then shot at, and armed police also discharged their weapons, according to a statement.

"The man remains inside the premises at this time and a negotiator is at the scene," police said in the statement.

A police spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with policy, said the man was believed to be alone. He added that no injuries were reported and that no arrests have yet been made.

Markham Square, a plush garden surrounded by Georgian terraced houses in the center of Chelsea, is just off of King Road, an area is popular with tourists and high-end shoppers.

Police wielding automatic weapons swarmed the scene as King's Road was closed to traffic.

Shootings are relatively rare in Britain, a country which has very strict gun laws.

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