Six dead including suspected gunman in 'serious firearms incident' in Plymouth
Six people, including the suspect, have died of gunshot wounds in the firearms incident in Keyham, Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
Officers found two females and two males dead at the scene after they were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth, at around 6.10pm on Thursday, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
Another man, believed to be the offender, was also dead at the scene, and all are believed to have died from gunshot wounds, the force said.
Another female was treated at the scene for gunshot wounds, but died a short time later in hospital.
Local MP Luke Pollard describes the incident as "unspeakably grim" to Good Morning Britain
A child is reportedly among the victims, according to local MP Luke Pollard who wrote in a tweet: "I'm utterly devastated that one of the people killed in the Keyham shooting was a child under ten years old."
A press conference with Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer will be held at Crownhill police station in Plymouth at 11.30am on Friday,
Nearby residents, Victoria Palider and Tom Savill, were meant to be out on a date together and say they would have walked by the area where the incident took place.
"It feels very heavy and we would say it’s quite traumatic because funnily enough, we were meant to go out for a date on our one day off and we live so close to what’s happened," Ms Palider said.
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Geraint Vincent
"We were meant to be walking past that road during the incident where everything was basically happening. "
Mr Savill said they would have been leaving just as the incident occurred.
"But then the helicopters came in and we saw the police helicopter and one air ambulance land," he added.
"It’s when we had two more arrive that’s when we realised that something serious was really happening then."
'It’s quite traumatic': Victoria Palider and Tom Savill talk to ITV News from near to the scene
The couple barricaded their door and "triple-locked it", he added.
Ms Palider said: "We’re very much on edge with it, to be honest.
"We’re quite lucky that we live on the first floor but still it’s just horrible to think that it’s pretty much one road away from where everything’s been happening."
Mr Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, tweeted: “The incident is not terror related, and neither is the suspect on the run in Plymouth.
“Remain calm. It is for the police to confirm further details. Do not repost chatter or gossip; work with them. We have the best cops in the land.”
In an earlier tweet, Mr Mercer said he was “aware of a serious and tragic incident unfolding in Plymouth.”
He added: “Please obey all instructions from the police and do not post rumour or speculation on social media.”
The South Western Ambulance Service said it was called at just after 6pm on Thursday to Keyham.
The ambulance service tweeted: “We responded to the incident with a significant number of resources, including Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics.
“We will provide an update here in due course.”
Many nearby residents haven't been able to return to their homes in the hours after the incident, ITV Reporter Claire Manning said
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, said questions on how the firearm was obtained will "hopefully" be answered on Friday.
"The police at the moment are...trying to explore what type of gun, whether they had a license to hold one or not," she said.
Boris Johnson thanked emergency crews in a tweet on Friday.
He wrote: "My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “There’s much we don’t know about the shocking events in Plymouth. However it’s clear tragedy has hit Keyham.
Further details about the incident will "hopefully" be released on Friday, the regional Police and Crime Commissioner said on Good Morning Britain
“My thoughts are with the families and neighbours of those caught up in this nightmare. I pay tribute to our emergency services who ran towards events we’d all run from.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected. I have spoken to the Chief Constable and offered my full support. I urge everyone to remain calm, follow police advice and allow our emergency services to get on with their jobs.”
Plymouth Argyle Football Club tweeted: “Our hearts go out to victims of tonight’s tragic incident in our city, alongside their families, friends, and the wider Plymouth community.”