Siege man who brought Sheffield city centre to standstill found guilty

A Sheffield siege that brought parts of the city centre to a standstill has ended with a guilty verdict for Yaqub Younis over threats involving explosives and public disorder. The 49-year-old was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday after a 32-hour police standoff in February 2025 at The Gateway apartment block on Broad Street. The court heard Younis told residents and armed officers he had guns and explosives and would open fire from his balcony, refusing to cooperate throughout the incident. Jurors also rejected his claims that MI5 and the National Crime Agency had been plotting to kill him. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said sentencing would take place on 2 July. The area around the block was sealed off, with about 100 residents moved to Ponds Forge for the night, and bus, tram, and road services disrupted.