Three people have been injured after a man was seen wielding a crossbow and other weapons in broad daylight in Headingley, Leeds, prompting a major police response.
West Yorkshire Police were called to Otley Road shortly before 3pm today following reports of a man carrying multiple weapons, including guns, a crossbow, a rifle, and a bat. Officers quickly arrived at the scene and located three injured individuals. Thankfully, their injuries are not currently being treated as life-threatening.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said:
“Police were called to Otley Road, Leeds at 2.47pm today to reports of an ongoing serious incident involving a man seen with weapons.
Officers attended and located three people who had suffered injuries which are at this time not being treated as life-threatening.
A male suspect was located and detained.
Inquiries are in their initial stages to determine the wider circumstances of what has taken place and further updates will follow.
A number of police scenes remain in place and ensuring public safety remains our priority.”
Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as buses were halted, passengers evacuated, and businesses told to lock their doors. Bethany Connelly, a worker at a nearby restaurant, said:
“Some girls rushed inside saying they’d seen someone carrying a crossbow. Minutes later, police and ambulances were everywhere, and the roads were blocked off.”
Otley Road, at the heart of Headingley and home to the famous Otley Run, was packed with punters this afternoon when the attack occurred. The pub crawl, stretching across 14 venues, is a major student tradition in Leeds, and today’s celebrations were in full swing when the incident unfolded.
A spokesperson for nearby Woodies Pub confirmed that the area around St Chad’s Drive had been cordoned off, and that pedestrian access was heavily restricted.
This remains a developing story, with police urging witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
If you have any information, please contact West Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident reference for 26 April.
