Second man arrested in connection with Dingle shooting

UPDATE - 4.30pm, Friday, 26 July.

Officers investigating a shooting in Dingle earlier this week have made a second arrest in connection with the incident.

At around 8.15pm on Wednesday, 24 July, officers were called to Erin Close to reports of a firearms discharge. It is believed that two scrambler bikes were involved in the incident. One of the scramblers had two people on board, whilst the second bike had a single rider on-board.

A 39-year-old man from Liverpool has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and assisting an offender. He has been taken to a local police station for questioning.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and anyone who can assist enquiries is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 quoting ref 19100404352 or @CrimestoppersUK, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Officers have arrested a 26-year-old man following a firearms discharge in Dingle this evening (Wednesday, 24 July 2019).

Reports were received that a firearm had been discharged at the junction of Erin Close and Laxey Street at about 8.14pm. It is believed that two scrambler bikes were involved in the incident. One of the scramblers had two people on board, whilst the second bike had a single rider on-board.

Witnesses reported hearing the bikes in the street and then three loud bangs. There are no reports of any injuries and officers have recovered a number of casings at the scene.

Just four minutes after the discharge officers were made aware of a road traffic collision involving a silver Nissan Almera and a scrambler bike on nearby Miles Street. The 26-year-old rider of the bike, who comes from Anfield, had sustained a serious fracture to his leg and the occupants of a white car that arrived at the scene removed the bike immediately after the collision. The 26-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a Section 1 firearm and he has been taken to hospital for treatment to his leg. Following treatment he will be taken to a police station where he will be interviewed by detectives.

Approximately an hour after the discharge a motorbike, believed to have been the one involved in the collision, was recovered in an alley way off Park Road and Park Hill Road. The motorbike has been recovered and will be forensically examined.

Chief Inspector Graeme Towndrow, said: "I can confirm that tonight we have arrested a 26-year-old man from Anfield on suspicion of possession of a Section 1 firearm following the discharge of a gun at the junction Erin Close and Laxey Street in Dingle this evening.

"Three people on two scrambler bikes were involved in the incident and a short time later the male from Anfield was arrested following a collision between a scrambler bike and a Nissan Almera car. Before the police arrived a white car was seen to attend at the scene of the collision and remove the bike. At about 9.15pm officers recovered a bike which is believed to have been involved in the incident on Erin Close and the road traffic collision on Miles Street.

"House-to-house inquiries are currently underway and from talking to the local community it is obvious that the incident tonight has created a great deal of distress and concern for local residents. The people who carried out this reckless act have no regard for other members of the public and we are absolutely committed to finding those involved and putting them before the courts.

"No community should have to suffer what this community has gone through tonight and I would like to take this opportunity to reassure this community that we will use every power we have to identify the individuals involved and take strong positive action to make the streets safer for them and their families.

"Working together with the community we can make a difference and I would appeal to anyone who may have any information in the relation to the incident to come forward so we can take these people off the streets. There will an increased police presence in the area and we will be taking proactive activity against those who we know are involved in serious organised crime linked to gun crime. If you supply us with the information we will act on it so that we can make the streets safer for the decent, law abiding people who live in the area.

"We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have witnessed the incident in Laxey Close involving the two motorbikes, or the road traffic collision on Miles Street, as information they have could be vital. Finally, I would like to appeal to anyone who may have seen the people who abandoned the bike in the alleyway off Park Road. Park Road is always busy and if anyone walking, or driving in the area spotted anyone walking with a motorbike on Park Road between 8.20pm and 9.15pm I would urge them to come forward too."

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information which could help detectives with their inquiries, is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 quoting ref. 1107 of 24 July, or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.