Armed police fire rubber bullets to take down ‘gunman’ who was ‘shouting threats and aiming RIFLE at children near village school’ – as man, 50, is arrested over ‘intent to endanger life’
- Armed police have been sent to the scene in Quorn, Leicestershire today
- Locals reported a man armed with a firearm and ‘shouting threats at people’
- Rawlins Academy confirmed pupils were shut in the classrooms as a precaution
- Man arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life
A man who reportedly pointed a firearm at children outside a school today has been shot by police with rubber bullets.
Students were locked in a school and ‘told to stay away from windows’ as armed police swooped on the scene near the Rawlins Academy in Quorn, Leicestershire.
Officers said the man was armed with a long-barrelled firearm and was reported to have ‘aimed it at children and shouted threats at passersby.’
The 50-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, police confirmed.
Locals reported seeing a man armed with a firearm and ‘shouting threats at passersby’ in the area of the Rawlins Academy in Leicestershire
Officers said the man was armed with a long-barrelled firearm and was reported to have ‘pointed the weapon at people in the area including children.’
Staff at the academy confirmed there was an incident at the school but were unsure of what happened.
A spokesman confirmed children were shut in their classrooms for a ‘short period of time’ but have since been let out.
One person tweeted: ‘My son is shut in a room being told to stay away from windows.’
One local told Leicestershire Live: ‘There was some shouting in the street and I looked out.
‘There was a man with his top off carrying what looked to be a rifle, I have no idea if it was an air rifle or a real gun.
‘He was aiming it at people and shouting threats. At one point the bloke was aiming the rifle at the Co-op store, but staff managed to lock the doors to protect customers.’
Leicestershire Police said: ‘Officers were called at 12.04pm today to a report of a man in possession of a long-barrelled firearm in the area of Sarson Street, Quorn.
‘The man was reported to be walking around the area and was reported to have pointed the weapon at people in the area including children.
‘In the interests of public and officer safety, firearms officers were deployed to the scene. During the incident a less lethal baton round was discharged by officers against the man.
‘The man was checked on by East Midands Ambulance Service. He was reported to have suffered bruising to his arm. He is not reported to have suffered any other injuries at this time.
‘The man, aged 50 and of Quorn, has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He currently remains in police custody.’
More to follow.