'Canisters' left with man in car
A man was found in a car with his hands bound and "canisters" surrounding his body, police said.
West Midlands Police said the man was spotted by a passing lorry driver on a road in an industrial area of Birmingham at about 10.20 on Sunday morning.
Police, fire crews, an Army bomb disposal team and trained negotiators are at the scene in Saltley.
Chief Superintendent Tom Coughlan said it was unclear whether the man was there of his own accord or if he was a victim of a crime.
He said it was also not clear yet whether he was conscious.
A 500-metre police cordon has been put up around the area and nearby factories have been evacuated.
Chief Superintendent Coughlan said: "Inside the vehicle his hands seem to be bound and his body seems to be surrounded by what is being referred to at the moment as a number of canisters."
Police said the two-door car was parked on the junction of Clarel Avenue and Landor Street.
The man is positioned in the front of the car with about half a dozen beer-sized gas canisters around his abdomen, police said.
When asked if the canisters were thought to be explosives, Chief Supt Coughlan said it was not yet known. He said: "We do not know what we are dealing with at this stage."
