Terrifying moment gunman fires shots from balcony while rapping to Tupac's 'Hit 'Em Up' sending panicked shoppers fleeing before armed police move in and arrest him

• Gunman spotted patrolling balcony of top-floor flat in Chatham Dockside, Kent 
• Panicked shoppers and pedestrians fled for cover as the chaos unfolded 
• Witness feared that the man had a machine gun, a rifle and a handgun 

This is the moment a gunman fired shots from his balcony this morning, sending panicked shoppers fleeing before armed police moved in and arrested him. 

Shouting wildly from his top-floor flat, the man filmed himself letting off shots inside his home before heading out onto his private walkway. 

He then terrified people in the streets below as he brandished what appeared to be a machine gun, rifle and handgun. 

Shoppers and pedestrians below jumped for cover as the gunman patrolled his balcony. 

The man in question appears to have filmed himself letting off shots on the top of the balcony

It came after a man was seen on the balcony of a top-floor flat in the area with locals saying that a man with up to four guns was seen firing at passersby. 

One panicked resident who took video of the incident said that the man had a machine gun, rifle and handgun. 

The force is urging people to stay away from the area as the incident continues to unfold.

What is an imitation firearm? 

Imitation firearms are classed as such if they can fire a bullet, shot or missile but happen not to be classified as a firearm under Section 5 of the Firearms Act.

Imitation firearms are treated as firearms by the police if the items in question have the appearance of such a weapon.

It will also be treated as such if the item can be readily converted into a weapon from which a bullet, shot or other missile can be fired.

A suspect cannot be said to have brandished an imitation firearm by pretending to have a gun if the object is not itself separate from themselves.

For example, a suspect using his or her fingers to give the appearance of a gun being held under their jacket is not in possession of an imitation firearm. 

 daughter of a shopping centre worker said: 'Just had a phonecall from my Mum who works at The Range, AVOID DOCKSIDE.

'There is a man with 2 guns shooting from the flats by dockside. 

'They have had to get all of the customers into the centre. They are currently waiting for the police.'

A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences and four suspected imitation firearms have been found, police confirmed.  

The Instagram from which he shared footage of the shooting uses the name @flexingmike and he claims to be the CEO of Truth or Dare Records. 

Armed police spoke to two young men at the scene who said they were with the man before he started letting off shots.

The two men said that he was firing blanks and had no live ammunition. 

A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Kent Police was called at 8.35am on Wednesday to a disturbance at a flat on Dock Head Road, Chatham.

'Members of the public reported seeing a man on a balcony with weapons and patrols, including armed officers, attended the scene.

'The police helicopter was also deployed and a man in 30s has now been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.

'Patrols remain at the scene where officers have located four suspected imitation firearms as part of their enquiries