Terrified shoppers “ran and screamed” after reports that a man shot a gun at a Halifax bank
Emergency services arrived at the Strand shopping center in Bootle around 12.25 today (Monday). Police cordoned off the scene in the center while the shaken staff was taken away.
An employee at the store described seeing a woman with a small child run away from the center and scream for help. Another said he heard a crash followed by people running.
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Lorraine Walsh, who runs a vaping store near the bank premises in the center, said: “It was just chaos, horrible. There were people shouting and running around. At first I thought it was a terrorist attack.
“I’m in shock and we were all really scared. I didn’t know what the hell was going on.”
A number of customers took refuge in a store that took off its shutters when the chaos began.
Pauline Redmond, assistant manager at the Shush women’s fashion store in downtown, said: “I heard all-powerful screams, with crying little children and people running everywhere.
Merseyside police scene at Strand Mall, Bootle, Liverpool. (Image: Liverpool Echo)
“It could be said that they were horrified by the look on their faces. I didn’t know if anyone was running around with a gun. I ran to the store and removed the blinds. There were a few elderly customers who were also inside. “
The section of the corridor where the incident took place remained cordoned off by police this afternoon, but the rest of the mall remained open.
An investigation by detectives has been launched and in-depth forensic investigations are underway to determine whether a gun was fired.
The suspect is described as a white man, thin, about 5 feet 11 inches. At the time of the incident, he was covered in dark clothes and a Puma hood. Surveillance for video surveillance and witnesses continue to find him. It is assumed that no money was stolen from the bank during the incident.
Shopping mall chiefs said Halifax Bank would remain closed until further notice, along with two other stores, The Perfume Shop and Game.
Chief Inspector Gary O’Rourke added: “If you have driven in the Bootle Strand area and have footage from the dashboard, please review it and let us know if you see anything, especially the man described on a motorcycle. Our staff will remain at the scene outside the Bootle Mall while extensive inquiries are made and to provide reassurance to the local community, so please come and talk to them and let us know if you have any information that could help our investigation.
“There is no room for weapons and those who use them on our streets, so please tell us what you know and help us bring those responsible to justice.
Anyone who has witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or the Merseyside Police Contact Center on Facebook or call 101 with reference 22000373098. You can also call on Crimestoppers, anonymous on 0800 555 111 or their online form.
Anyone with a video of the incident can upload it for police viewing via the following link to the NICE website: digital-policing.co.uk
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