Siege man's 'no surrender' vow

A Yardie gangster at the centre of Britain's longest armed siege taunted a police negotiator, saying: "I've got a gun, bring it on. This is war."

Elie Hall, 32, held police at bay from his Hackney bedsit for 15 days before shooting himself, an inquest at St Pancras coroner's court was told.

The siege started on Boxing Day 2002 and Hall held neighbour Paul Okere at gunpoint for 11 days before the student escaped. Hall's aunt, Valerie Kirkland, spoke to her nephew several times during the stand-off.

"He told me he was adamant he was not going to come out," she said. He claimed he had petrol bombs in the flat and refused to come out, even after being shot in the shoulder.

Hall, from Jamaica, had 128 convictions, mostly for firearms. He was wanted in connection with two incidents shortly before the siege when shots were fired at police during stop and searches.

During the siege, Hall fired the first shot and four police returned fire, police said.

The hearing continues.