A GUNMAN left five dead including a child under ten in a suburban bloodbath last night — with his mum also said to be among the victims.
He reportedly used a long-barrelled gun and kicked in the door of a house before shooting at a woman and her five-year-old daughter in Plymouth.
The man, dressed in black and grey, then ran into the street and continued his rampage, firing randomly at passers-by.
Minutes later he was dead on the pavement, having apparently turned the gun on himself.
Early today police confirmed three female victims had died along with three males – including the gunman. They stressed it was not terror-related.
Read our Plymouth shooting live blog for the latest updates…
- John Hall
SHOOTING TOOK PLACE NEAR KIDS PLAYGROUND
Police dogs are also on scene searching the area within the cordon, with the emergency response appearing to centre on North Down Crescent near a school and kids' playground.
- John Hall
WITNESS SHARE WHAT THEY COULD SEE
One witness, who gave her name as Sharron, said she saw the gunman "kick in the door of a house" before he "randomly started shooting".
She told the BBC: "Firstly, there was shouting, followed by gunshots – three, possibly four to begin with.
"This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting… he ran from the house shooting as he ran and proceeded to shoot at a few people in the Linear Park up from the drive."
Robert Pinkerton aged 54, said he was on Henderson Place , when he heard a loud bang.
He told PlymouthLive that he turned a corner before bumping into the gunman, and "swerved" when he saw the gun.
Robert added that he spotted a man tending to an injured woman in the doorway of a hairdressers.
- John Hall
PLYMOUTH SHOOTING LAST NIGHT
A GUNMAN shot dead five people before being shot dead in Plymouth last night – as an MP warned of a "grim day for our city".
Armed cops and at least four air ambulances flooded the Keyham suburb after locals said they heard "gunshots" shortly after 6pm.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm today.
"Officers and ambulance staff attended. There have been a number of fatalities at the scene and several other casualties are receiving treatment.
"A critical incident has been declared. The area has been cordoned off and police believe the situation is contained."
- John Hall
REPORTS OF MULTIPLE DEATHS
It is understood that there are 5 dead with multiple injured. The gunman has also been shot dead.
- John Hall
POLICE FULL STATEMENT
Devon and Cornwall police have released the following statement.
“Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm today [Thursday 12 August].
“Officers and ambulance staff attended.
“There have been a number of fatalities at the scene and several other casualties are receiving treatment.
“A critical incident has been declared.
“The area has been cordoned off and police believe the situation is contained
“Road closures are in place so please avoid the area.
“We are appealing to the public not to speculate or share pictures of the scene on social media or anywhere else.
“We will provide more information on log number 768 of 12/08/21 as soon as we can.”
- Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
THREE FEMALES AND THREE MALES WERE KILLED
Police said that three females and three males, including the suspect, died from gunshot wounds in the incident.
Two of the women died at the scene and another female was taken to the hospital and died a short time later, police said.
Several others are being treated at the hospital, according to reports.
- Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
MASS SHOOTINGS RARE IN THE UK
The shooting in southwest England that left six people dead is a rarity in the United Kingdom.
The UK has one of the lowest gun homicide rates in the world.
This was the first mass shooting in the country in 11 years.
- Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
OTHERS ARE BEING TREATED FOR INJURIES
Luke Pollard, a member of parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, confirmed that in addition to the people who we killed, others are being treated for injuries at the hospital.
He called the attack "unspeakably awful," on Twitter.
"My condolences and thoughts are with the families.
"I'm utterly devastated that one of the people killed in the #keyham shooting was a child under ten years old."
- Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
WITNESS CLAIMS GUNMAN 'KICKED IN' FRONT DOOR
A woman who lives nearby the site of the Keyham attack said she heard shouting and saw a gunman kick in the front door of a home before shooting a woman and child.
Sharron Turner, 57, told the Times that the gunman then headed off through a park behind the house, where more shots rang out.
"Then he ran into the park and there were further shots. I heard someone say he had shot his brother," she said.
The claims about the gunman's brother have not yet been verified by the police.
- Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
COPS SAY SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED
The gunman reportedly killed five people before turning the gun on himself during the Plymouth attack.
Early reports say a 5-year-old girl and her mum may be among the dead.
The man then reportedly ran down the street shooting people outside before taking his own life.
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BLOODIED VICTIM
Dozens of locals have reported a “shooting” online, with footage circulating online appearing to show a bloodied victim on the ground surrounded by armed police.
In one video posted to social media an armed officer can be heard telling members of the public to “walk away” from the scene.
Police dogs are also on scene searching the area within the cordon.
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SOUTH WESTERN AMBULANCE SERVICE AT SCENE
South Western Ambulance Service have confirmed that they have attended the scene and will be giving updates on the situation.
Residents reportedly heard “gun shots” and “loud bangs” before the emergency services were on scene.
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POLICE URGE PEOPLE WITH FOOTAGE TO NOT POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Footage circulating online appeared to show a bloodied victim on the ground surrounded by armed police.
In one video posted to social media an armed officer can be heard telling members of the public to “walk away” from the scene.
Police dogs are also on scene searching the area within the cordon, with the emergency response appearing to centre on North Down Crescent near a school and kids’ playground.
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SHOOTING TOOK PLACE NEAR KIDS PLAYGROUND
Police dogs are also on scene searching the area within the cordon, with the emergency response appearing to centre on North Down Crescent near a school and kids' playground.
- [email protected]
FIVE KILLED BY GUNMAN
Reports suggest that those killed 'include suspect's mother, a toddler and random members of the public.'
Armed cops and at least four air ambulances flooded the Keyham suburb after locals said they heard “gunshots” shortly after 6pm.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm today."
- [email protected]
WITNESS SHARE WHAT THEY COULD SEE
One witness, who gave her name as Sharron, said she saw the gunman "kick in the door of a house" before he "randomly started shooting".
She told the BBC: "Firstly, there was shouting, followed by gunshots – three, possibly four to begin with.
"This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting… he ran from the house shooting as he ran and proceeded to shoot at a few people in the Linear Park up from the drive."
Robert Pinkerton aged 54, said he was on Henderson Place , when he heard a loud bang.
He told PlymouthLive that he turned a corner before bumping into the gunman, and "swerved" when he saw the gun.
Robert added that he spotted a man tending to an injured woman in the doorway of a hairdressers.
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MAYOR OF LONDON 'SADDENED' BY EVENTS
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PLYMOUTH SHOOTING TONIGHT
A GUNMAN shot dead five people before being shot dead in Plymouth tonight – as an MP warned of a "grim day for our city".
Armed cops and at least four air ambulances flooded the Keyham suburb after locals said they heard "gunshots" shortly after 6pm.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm today.
"Officers and ambulance staff attended. There have been a number of fatalities at the scene and several other casualties are receiving treatment.
"A critical incident has been declared. The area has been cordoned off and police believe the situation is contained."
- [email protected]
REPORTS OF MULTIPLE DEATHS
It is understood that there are 5 dead with multiple injured. The gunman has also been shot dead.
- [email protected]
POLICE FULL STATEMENT
Devon and Cornwall police have released the following statement.
“Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm today [Thursday 12 August].
“Officers and ambulance staff attended.
“There have been a number of fatalities at the scene and several other casualties are receiving treatment.
“A critical incident has been declared.
“The area has been cordoned off and police believe the situation is contained
“Road closures are in place so please avoid the area.
“We are appealing to the public not to speculate or share pictures of the scene on social media or anywhere else.
“We will provide more information on log number 768 of 12/08/21 as soon as we can.”
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TRIBUTES FLOOD IN
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DOZENS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES ARE AT THE SCENE
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'SHOOTER SHOT DEAD'
It is understood that five people have been killed by the gunman in the bloody rampage this evening.
The shooter is also believed to have died, but it is not clear if it was self-inflicted or by armed police officers.
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