A man has been arrested after a gunman reportedly fired shots at three separate locations in Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Merseyside Police declared a major incident after gunshots were reported at a Liverpool cinema, a newsagents and another premises in the city, and armed officers began a major hunt for the gunman.
A 49-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of possession of a Section 1 firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery, police said on Thursday morning.He was taken to a police station where he was due to be interviewed by detectives.
Merseyside Police was first called to the News and Booze store, locally known as Sangha newsagents, on Lower House Lane in Norris Green.
A man had reportedly entered the shop around 8pm, threatened the store assistant and demanded cash before firing a gun and leaving the shop empty handed.
So this just happened in Liverpool.... Gunman on the loose as of 45 minutes ago.
— 🩺 Dr. Napervillain Bunny🐰 (@Type07Safety) January 4, 2024
This has to be a mistake!
I was told shootings only happen in the United States. pic.twitter.com/cOrehDO5XS
Video circulated on social media appears to show a hooded man wearing socks and flip-flops opening fire with what appears to be a long-barreled gun.
"The shop assistant was not injured during the incident, but extremely distressed by the ordeal," said Merseyside Police in a statement. "No damage was caused to the shop."
Just before 8.50pm, police received a call reporting shots had been fired outside the Showcase Cinema on Stonedale retail park in Croxteth.
"It was reported that a man armed with a gun entered the cinema complex and threatened two members of staff in the foyer, before leaving," said police.
"When he got outside he fired a number of shots in the air before escaping in a car. No one was injured during this incident and no damage was caused."
Around 10.20pm, police received further reports of gunshots heard at a property on Malpas Road. No one was injured during the incident.
The cinema complex was placed on lockdown by police. Images from the scene showed a large number of response vehicles outside.
Armed officers and local police were in the area and people were advised to stay indoors.
The force said no-one had been injured, and it was confirmed as not being terrorist-related, but that it was being treated as a major incident.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenn Wilson said on Thursday: “I can report that a 49-year-old man has been arrested following three firearms discharges in the Croxteth and Norris Green areas last night.
"Thankfully incidents like this, involving a single offender in three separate shootings in close proximity and quick succession, are extremely rare and this is the first time we have had to deal with an incident of this nature on the streets of Merseyside.
“The shocking and distressing impact these incidents will have had on the shop assistant, the staff at the Showcase Cinema and those filmgoers who found themselves in a lockdown situation in the complex after shots were fired outside the cinema and the residents of Malpas Road cannot be underestimated.
“Officers were on the ground immediately following the first incident and were able to respond swiftly to the subsequent discharges, and a male was identified. located and arrested on suspicion of all three discharges within 13 hours.
“High visibility patrols will remain in the area to reassure members of the local community.
“Firearms have no place on our streets and we are committed to arresting those involved in gun crime and taking firearms off our streets."
Stonedale retail park and all shops within the area will remain closed while officers continue investigations.
