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Moment 'teacher pinned suspected gunman to ground' after shots reported at Crawley College

Watch: Moment man is pinned to ground after 'shots fired' at Crawley College

This is the dramatic moment a man is pinned to the ground after reports that gunshots were fired at a college.

Video footage shows a man being held down at Crawley College in West Sussex after it was evacuated on Monday.

An 18-year-old man was detained following the incident and a firearm and a knife were seized.

In the clip, a man is detained by what is believed to be teaching staff.

Sussex Police later thanked those who helped apprehend the suspect.

Video footage captured a man being pinned to the ground after reports of gunshots at Crawley College, West Sussex, on Monday. (Yahoo News UK)
Video footage captured a man being pinned to the ground after reports of gunshots at Crawley College, West Sussex, on Monday. (Yahoo News UK)

"Two staff members at the college suffered minor injuries and presented themselves to a walk-in medical centre,” said chief superintendent Howard Hodges.

“I want to thank those who helped apprehend the suspect before officers arrived and all the students, staff and public for their co-operation today."

Police said the minor injuries sustained by two college staff members were not gunshot wounds.

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The video shared on Snapchat appears to show someone being held on the ground by several others outside the college, while the person holding the camera says “my man had a knife and a gun”.

Officers received multiple calls shortly after 3.10pm of reports of gunshot fire at the college.

Armed police were dispatched to the scene and an 18-year-old man from Crawley was detained in College Road at 3.20pm, police said.

He remains in police custody.

Local officers were liaising with counter-terror specialists, but police later announced that it is not being treated as a terrorist incident.

Bomb disposal units were later seen arriving at the college.

James, a Crawley College student who did not wish to share his second name, praised his teacher for keeping his class calm following the gunshots.

“I was doing my work at the time then suddenly heard some gunshots from the very bottom of the tower,” said the 19-year-old, who was on the sixth floor of the building.

Armed police at Crawley College, Crawley, West Sussex, following
Armed police at Crawley College, West Sussex, following reports of gunshot fire on Monday. (PA)
Armed police at Crawley College, Crawley, West Sussex, following
Armed police at Crawley College on Monday. (PA)
Police activity at Crawley College, Crawley, West Sussex, following
A man was detained at Crawley College on Monday after reports of gunshot fire. (PA)

James said police arrived just a few minutes later and although the experience was scary he “felt calm and safe” thanks to his teacher and the fast response from police – who later helped to evacuate his class.

“It’s a really new experience and felt really scary due to there being a gun around where I’m doing my college work,” he said.

“The teacher, he barricaded the room’s door just in case and I have a lot of trust in him, since we were far up the tower I felt safer too.

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“(I’m) just thankful that we had brave teachers and police around.”

Hodges said: “We continue to have a large policing presence in Crawley and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.”

The college tweeted that it was awaiting further information from police but was not aware of any serious injuries.

“Our priority remains the safety of students and staff,” it said.

Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101 or online quoting Operation Reset.

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