Appeal following shooting in Bootle

We are appealing for information after shots were fired in Bootle on Sunday evening (13 January 2019).

At about 10.05pm, it was reported offenders on an off-road motorbike had shot a firearm on Bedford Road, causing damage to the ground floor window of a house on the street.

It was reported a male on the motorbike shot in the direction of another male before the bike was ridden away.

Officers attended and damage was found to have been caused to the window which was consistent with a firearm discharge.

Armed officers attended and a search for the victim and offenders was undertaken. Detectives and community officers have carried out house-to-house, forensic and witness enquiries and are providing reassurance to the community, as well as seeking any CCTV and dashcam footage that may assist enquiries.

No-one has presented at local hospitals with any injuries consistent with a firearms discharge.

Detective Inspector Tony O’Brien said: "The investigation is at a very early stage but we are treating this as a targeted attack. It is only through good fortune that this reckless act has not caused anyone any injury.

"We are devoting resources to identify those responsible and ensure they are put before the courts, as well as anyone who helps store weapons on behalf of criminal groups.

"I want to appeal to the male who appears to have been targeted, and anyone in the community who saw or heard anything at around 10.05pm in the area, or who has any information which may help our investigation, to come forward immediately.

"You can speak to us directly or anonymously and for free via Crimestoppers, which I want to remind people is completely independent of the police."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 19100013526 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.