“It’s not normal. You hear about this stuff in America, but not on your doorstep. It was really scary”
Counter Terrorism Police have taken over an investigation into an incident in Leeds today (April 26), which left two women seriously injured.
Emergency services were called to Otley Road, in Headingley, at 2.47pm. On arrival, officers found three people with injuries.
West Yorkshire Police declared a major incident at the scene, along the route of the popular student bar crawl ‘The Otley Run’.
At this time the injuries are not being treated as life-threatening.
People reported being taken off buses. A worker described the moment a group of girls asked if they could hide in the restaurant as a man ran down the road with a crossbow.
The woman, who works at Heaney and Mill on Otley Road, told YorkshireLive: “It was really scary, because obviously, you don’t get this happening in Leeds. It’s not normal. You hear about this stuff in America, but not on your doorstep. It was really scary.”
It has now been confirmed the incident is now being investigated by anti-terror police.
A statement from Counter Terrorism Policing North East said a crossbow and a firearm were recovered from the scene in Otley Road, Leeds, after two women were seriously injured.
“Officers attended and located three people who had suffered injuries, two of which were women and were taken to hospital for treatment. The third, a 38-year-old man, has been arrested and taken to the hospital due to a self-inflicted injury.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm.”
The statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police. Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley added: “Although our inquiries are still at a very early stage, the circumstances surrounding this incident have resulted in Counter Terrorism Policing taking the lead for this investigation
“From the enquiries undertaken so far, there is no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the attack, and, at this time, we are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said her thoughts were with the victims of the incident in Leeds, adding she was being updated on the situation.
In a statement, she said: “I am being kept updated on the serious violent incident in Leeds this afternoon.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response.
“My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
The incident happened on the Otley Run, which is a pub crawl in Leeds.
One venue, Taylor’s Sports Bar & Grill, posted on Facebook on Saturday evening to say it would be closed until further notice “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
