Shots have been fired in the English coastal town of Plymouth. Several people were killed. Almost all questions remain unanswered about the background to the violence.
Plymouth – According to police, several people were killed in a violent incident in the southern English city of Plymouth. “There have been some fatalities and several other injuries are being treated on-site,” the Devon and Cornwall Police wrote in a press release.
The British news agency PA and the “Times” reported, citing unnamed sources, of up to six deaths. According to the newspaper, a little girl could also be among the victims. The police did not classify the incident as a terrorist act, as a spokeswoman for the German press agency confirmed.
It was called in the early evening for a “serious incident involving firearms,” the statement said. However, the police assumed they had the situation under control by now. The affected area in the Keyham district has been cordoned off and should be avoided. According to a report by the broadcaster Sky News, an attacker involved is said to have been shot. Initially, no details were known about the exact number of victims or the background to the offenses.
An eyewitness who lives near the crime scene told the BBC about several shots. An attacker kicked the door of a house and started shooting. Then he continued to shoot outside. Both the police and rescue workers were in large numbers in the region in the early evening. A local BBC reporter reported on countless emergency vehicles and helicopters.
The British Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed her condolences to those affected by the violence and called on the population to remain calm. “The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected,” wrote Patel on Twitter Thursday evening. Opposition leader Keir Starmer also expressed his condolences to those affected. Local MPs urged residents not to share pictures or speculation on social media.
Local Labor MP Luke Pollard said on Twitter that the shooting was over. He spoke to the police, who confirmed this to him. Some victims would still be treated. “Please stay safe, hug your loved ones and keep the victims in your mind,” wrote Pollard. dpa
