Arrests after officer shooting
Female police officer wounded in Lancashire shooting incident
Also In The News
|
The new year is already here, but there is still time for our rundown of the biggest stories that made the headlines in 2007. |  |
Monday, 31, Dec 2007 04:37
A female police officer is recovering after being shot in a suspected armed robbery near Preston, Lancashire.
PC Katie Johnson, 28, sustained gunshot wounds to her leg when a firearm was discharged as officers attended the alleged robbery at the Hospital Inn, Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge.
Two men were arrested at the scene, but another suspect remains unaccounted for.
He is described as a stocky, muscular white male at least 6ft tall with dark-coloured eyes who was wearing a black padded jacket at the time of the incident.
Police are also appealing for information over a red Vauxhall Vectra, registration N396 RHO, believed to be linked to the shooting.
Specialist armed officers, dog handlers and Lancashire police's helicopter were deployed after staff contacted police at 08:17 GMT to report a robbery.
A man wearing a balaclava and wielding a shotgun was seen leaving the premises but refused to drop his weapon when told to do so.
"The man then fired the gun at the police officer," a force statement said.
"She received pellet wounds to the top of her leg believed to be from a shotgun."
PC Johnson was taken to Royal Preston hospital with minor injuries, while another man is also being treated for injuries sustained in the incident, although it is understood he has not been shot.
The force's assistant chief constable Jerry Graham described the offender's actions as "callous… [and] beyond the pale".
"This is an incredibly serious situation where a police officer has been shot at.
"If a member of the public does see anyone behaving suspiciously in the area they are asked not to approach them, but to ring the police on 999 straightaway."