An investigation is underway after a man on a bike shot at three people in the road
Police in Toxteth after shots fired (Image: Liverpool Echo)
An area of Toxteth was rocked this afternoon after shots were fired in the street. Armed Police swarmed Thames Street just before 3.55pm today, Friday, December 12, following reports a man on a bike shot three people in the road.
Police said the suspect and the three people then left the area. An investigation has been launched and officers remain at the scene to carry out CCTV, forensic and house-to-house enquiries to speak to the local community. A large cordon, stretching from Kinglsey Road at the junction with Beaconsfield Street and Thames Street.
Newsagent Convenience Store was also cordoned off.
The cordon could be seen covering a number of houses, with Merseyside Police officers guarding the cordon near the top and bottom of the street.
Residents who lived inside the cordon could enter and leave their properties as long as they notified police of their presence. Others were turned away and told to walk around.
One resident who lived on Beaconsfield Street but outside the cordon told the ECHO they didn’t hear any gunshots or commotion until police officers arrived on the scene.
The resident, who did not want to be named, added: “There seems to be a cordon here every other week.”
Police in Toxteth after shots fired
Another resident said: “There’s two gangs of kids round here that always seem to be hanging around causing trouble. I’ve got two sons, and I hate them being outside at night in case anything happens to them. I’d rather them be inside playing on their Xbox. At least I know they’re safe.”
A third resident added: “I’d just got home from work and there was armed police everywhere. I don’t have a clue what’s happened.”
Merseyside Police has appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.
Inspector Matthew Farmer said: “We are in the very early stages of an investigation into this incident and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed what happened on Thames Street, saw the man on a pedal bike shortly after, or has any information which could help us with our ongoing enquiries to come forward.
“I would also like to appeal to anyone who lives in the area, who has CCTV footage that may have captured the incident to get in touch.
“Our officers immediately respond to incidents such as these and I would like to reassure residents that we are actively working to make Merseyside a safer place to live and work.
“We are relentless in our pursuit of such offenders who carry dangerous weapons in our community and urge anyone who has any information to contact us so we can find those responsible.”
If you have any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage or information about this incident, please contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via the website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call with log number 672 of Friday 12 December.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously In an emergency always call 999.
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