Youths were 'filming music video' on street moments before gunshots rang out
Residents on a Toxteth street described the moment gunshots rang out and police vans arrived with blue lights blazing. The incident occurred on Pomfret Street at around 9.05pm yesterday, September 29, shortly after a group of males were heard shouting in the area.
One resident on neighbouring Arnold Crescent said: "Fireworks go off all the time, so half the time you just think it's fireworks. To be honest I heard one pop and just thought it was a firework. I was in the living room with my two friends and didn't even look up from my telly." He claimed youths were on the street filming a music video just 30 minutes before gunshots rang out.
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Two men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm without a certificate and attempted wounding with intent. A 23-year-old and a 26-year-old, both from Wavertree, remained in police custody today, September 30.
Merseyside Police attended the scene and cordoned off part of Pomfret Street, with police tape remaining in place until around 1.45pm today. There were no reports of anyone injured or of damage being caused, and enquiries with local hospitals to establish if anyone has been admitted with injuries consistent with being shot have so far proved negative, police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Atkinson, from the Firearms Investigation Team, said: “The investigation into this incident is in its very early stages but we have already made progress with two arrests made overnight.
“This has happened in the heart of a residential area and we know it will cause people living nearby a lot of worry and upset. Thankfully it does not appear anyone has been physically harmed, but it goes without saying that using a firearm close to people’s homes is incredibly reckless and dangerous.
“I want to reassure the community that we will leave no stone unturned as we seek to find who brought such fear to their community, and take them and their weapon off our streets. There is no room for guns in Merseyside and we will do everything in our power to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“We have a large police presence in the area and in the coming days our officers will be working to reassure the community as well conducting the investigation.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at around 9.05pm and saw or heard anything suspicious to contact Merseyside Police. Please check your CCTV, dashcam devices or doorbell footage and if you see anything that could be useful, however small it may seem, please let us know. It could well be vital to our investigation.”
If you have any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage or information about this incident, please DM the police social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with 24000835250. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.