Police give update after man pulled out gun and ran to mosque
Police have increased patrols in an area after a man reportedly pulled out a gun outside a mosque in Toxteth. Emergency services received reports at around 2pm today (Friday, November 22) that two men on bikes were seen to ride onto Hatherley Street from Mulgrave Road, near to the Al Rahma mosque in Toxteth, as a number of people were coming out of the mosque following afternoon prayers.
One of the men on the bikes was seen to get off his bike and ran at two other men who ran inside the mosque. When he got to the front of the mosque it is believed that he pulled out a gun and then walked away.
The suspect then got back on his bike, and the two men rode off towards Grafton Street. The suspected firearm was not discharged and no-one was injured during the incident.
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Following the terrifying incident a Section 60 Order was put in place and today, November 24, Merseyside Police has provided and update and confirmed it has extended the order.
The order was put in place at 5pm yesterday (Saturday 23 November) and will stay active until 5pm Monday, 25, November. A Section Order, under S60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, gives officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals across Liverpool city centre and is designed to prevent serious violence.
It also includes a Section 60AA authorisation meaning failure to remove a face covering when asked by an officer could result in arrest. Any face covering can also be seized by a police officer.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Sharon Robinson said: “There continues to be increased patrols in this area of Toxteth today and this order will give those officers on the ground the ability to stop and search anyone suspected of carrying weapons or planning any criminality, and strengthen their ability to protect the community from any further disorder.
“The aim, as ever, is to keep the public safe, and residents will see more police patrols today. I hope their continued presence is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to those officers.
“We have deployed a number of Section 60s before and will continue to deploy them where we believe they can assist our efforts to keep people safe.”
Anyone with information about criminality and disorder is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111. You can also pass information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.