UPDATE 3pm
Armed police have arrested a man in Southport town centre in connection with today’s shooting.
The victim remains in hospital.
Updates to follow.
Manhunt after targeted shooting in Southport Town centre
Merseyside Police can confirm that emergency services are in attendance after reports of a shooting in the Southport area today, Thursday 21 December.
At around 12.30pm, a call was received of a gun shot in the area of Eastbank Street. Armed officers attended and a man in his 20s was found with a non life-threatening head injury and will be taken to hospital. A bus driver was also found with a minor injury and will be taken to hospital.
Enquiries are ongoing at the scene to establish the exact circumstances and a road closure is currently in place on Eastbank Street from Kings Street to Lord Street.
Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe said: “I want to appeal to any witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“To fire any weapon in a busy street at this time of the day is incredibly reckless and there will have been numerous people in the area, some of whom may have seen the incident or somebody running off, or have dashcam or CCTV footage to assist.
“We are determined to find the person responsible and bring them to justice and I want to reassure people that there are extensive enquiries ongoing to establish the circumstances.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on the gun crime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Information can also be provided via their online form: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online.
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