Thaindian News

LONDON (BNO NEWS) — At least twelve people were killed and 25 others were injured on Tuesday when a man opened fire at some three dozen locations in northwest England, authorities said. He then killed himself.

Police were first called to Duke Street in Whitehaven at 10.35 a.m. local time after reports that shots were fired by a man. Other shooting scenes - at least 30 in total - were reported in the Seascale, Whitehaven, and Egremont areas.

“Throughout the day we have been dealing with a very fast paced operation that stretched over three hours, and emergency services responded during very difficult, challenging circumstances,” said Cumbria Police Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde.

Immediately after the first shooting, a large-scale search was launched. The response included armed vehicle and foot patrols, officers from Cumbria Roads Policing Unit, police dogs units and air support from Lancashire. “He is being tracked both on land and by air as police work to apprehend him,” police said during the incident, while adding that every single armed police patrol in Cumbria was being used to apprehend the suspect.

A gold command has been established in the Police Headquarters in Penrith to manage the response to the incident.

“We are still at a very early stage in our investigation and we are not able to really understand the motivation behind it - or establish whether this was a premeditated or random attack,” Stuart said.

Several hours after the shooting, the suspect - who was identified as 52-year-old Derrick Bird - left his grey/silver Citreon Picasso vehicle in the Boot area. His body was found in the same region, in a wooded area, at around 1.40 p.m. local time. “At this time we believe that he took his own life,” Hyde said. “No shots were fired by police officers.”

“Police have seized a gun from the scene and are now working to formally confirm the identity of the deceased and the number of people injured or dead,” police said.

Hyde said thirteen people - including the gunman - had been killed in the shooting spree, while 25 others had been injured. Three of those injured are in a critical condition.

“Police are now working to identify those who have died and inform immediate family,” said Joana Dowling, a spokeswoman for Cumbria police. If you cannot make contact with relatives, or you are not sure if they are safe, you may contact the Cumbria police helpline number on 0800 0960095.

Also, if you saw Derrick Bird or his vehicle with registration plates ND55 ZFC in the last 24 hours, police ask you to call 0845 33 00 247 immediately.