School children ‘scream in terror’ after Year 11 pupil is injured in ‘shooting’ as they made their way to lessons as armed police seal off part of small market town
- Officers have raced to scene after reports of gunshot in Kesgrave, near Ipswich
- Headteacher has written to parents saying incident involved a ‘Year 11 student’
- Police have declared the incident as a ‘serious incident’ and are investigating
A school has been put into lockdown as police hunt for a suspected gunman after reports of a Year 11 pupil has been injured in a shooting as they made their way to lessons.
Officers have swarmed the area following reports of a gunshot in Kesgrave, near Ipswich.
In a post on Twitter Kesgrave High School said one of its students had been involved in a ‘serious incident’.
A mother posted on Facebook saying something ‘major’ has happened on Grange Farm and that ‘lots of people were screaming’ with one lady saying ‘run, someone has been shot.’
The incident reportedly involves a Year 11 pupil who was on their way to school at the time.
Suffolk Constabulary said in a statement: ‘Police are currently at the scene of a serious incident in Kesgrave.
‘Officers were called just after 8.40am, Monday 7 September, to reports of a shooting in Grange Farm.
Police at the scene of the incident in Grange Farm, Kesgrave, which is to the east of Ipswich
‘Friends Walk and Through Jollys are completely closed off at present and there is a partial closure on Ropes Drive. Members of the public are asked to avoid these areas.
‘Any witnesses, or anyone with information about this incident, is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 101 quoting reference CAD 58 of 7 September.’
In the aftermath a mother wrote on Facebook: ‘My daughter and friends were walking to school and heard what sounded exactly like a gunshot.
‘Then lots of people screaming and a lady saying ‘run, someone has been shot’.
‘I had four terrified children come running back to mine. There are now at least four police cars lined up outside the road involved. Stay safe everyone.’
According to the Ipswich Star, the headteacher of Kesgrave High School, Julia Upton, sent an email confirming the incident involved one of its Year 11 pupils ‘on their way to school’.
The message reportedly said: ‘We have been made aware by the police that there has been a serious incident involving one of our Year 11 students on their way to school.
The incident reportedly involves a Year 11 pupil who was on their way to school at the time
‘Students in school are safe and we are managing the situation in constant close communication with the police.
‘Students are to remain in school, and will be kept safe in liaison with police.
‘Police will be present in the area and around the school throughout the school day.
‘At the present time we are expecting students to be dismissed at the end of the school, day at 3.20pm as normal.’
An Essex and Herts Air Ambulance landed on a grass area and took off just before 10am.
A land ambulance is also at the scene, along with a number of police cars.