Man threatened balcony gunfire during stand-off

A man who allegedly triggered a 32-hour police siege in Sheffield city centre is accused of falsely claiming he possessed guns and explosives and threatening to open fire from his balcony, a court has heard.

During his trial at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, jurors heard Yaqub Younis threatened to blow up The Gateway apartment block in Broad Street, where he lived, in February 2025, causing a large-scale evacuation.

Prosecutors said he claimed MI5 and the National Crime Agency were spying on him and plotting to kill him.

Younis, now 49, denies communicating false information with intent, intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, affray and criminal damage to property.

Prosecutor Annabelle Darlow KC said the defendant's "false and sustained claims" caused enormous disruption to Sheffield residents, workers and visitors as the area surrounding the block had to be sealed off to all forms of traffic.

Police alerted bus companies, SuperTram and the Highways authority.

Trams were stopped and the Sheffield Parkway between Park Square roundabout and Derek Dooley Way was closed in both directions.

During the stand-off, Younis shouted at officers that he had "loads of guns" and 18-20kg of explosives and when asked to identify himself, he is said to have replied sarcastically "Joe Bloggs".

He also threw a TV and various household items, some of which were on fire, off his balcony.

When he eventually gave his real name, police realised Younis, who is originally from the West Midlands, had been on prison recall and had "various markers against him".

"During that entire 32-hour period the defendant remained holed up in his flat, refusing to leave and he indeed hurled objects out of the top floor window and trashed the interior of his rented flat," said Darlow.

The defendant's claims of being in possession of explosives and firearms turned out to be "deliberate lies", she said, however, Younis had a number of weapons, including a meat cleaver, which he threatened police with.

During the siege, Darlow said a strong smell of cannabis could be detected from the defendant's flat, with Younis telling police negotiators he was using the drug to help him calm down.

He repeated claims that police had been trying to assassinate him, with officers at the scene reassuring him he would not come to harm.

The court heard his behaviour was described as erratic and that he requested to speak to a Member of Parliament and asked for a banana and mobile phone.

Police gradually gained control of the flat by removing barricades and restricting Younis to a bedroom and en-suite, where he armed himself with knives.

He was arrested in the early hours of 12 February following a brief struggle, and a subsequent search found drugs, knives, a lock knife and a police baton.

In his interview with police, he claimed he believed he had been watched by people linked to a false tax investigation and a rival criminal gang but denied suffering from paranoia or having issues with his mental health.

The trial continues.

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