Liverpool nursery under police guard as detectives hunt man who carried gun into building
Suspect reportedly carrying the firearm left the scene with another man on a motorbike
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A Liverpool nursery school remains under police guard following a reported incident this morning involving a gunman inside the building.
Merseyside Police arrived at Childsplay Preschool on Heathfield Road at around 8.10am this morning following reports of a man carrying a firearm into the nursery as parents and children were arriving.
Detective Chief Inspector John Webster confirmed that an investigation was underway into the case. Police believe that it was a “targeted” incident, with the man looking for someone, specifically a non-staff member, who was inside the nursery.
The man who was reportedly carrying the firearm left the scene with another man on a motorbike before police arrived.
Merseyside Police have remained in attendance, with a cordon in place around the school as specialist forensic officers examine the scene inside the nursery.
Parents have been arriving to collect their children from 12pm onwards, with their children’s safety the primary concern.
Natalie Wynne, who collected her daughter just before 3pm, said that she “had every faith” that the nursery and the police did everything to ensure her child’s safety.
She said: “I am happy with the security, because to get into her room you have to go past two doors. Even if they (the reported gunmen) did have a key code, which does get passed around the parents, the second door is locked.
“When I went in I did ask if it was anything to do with the children, someone’s parent or something, but they (the nursery staff) do not know."
The nursery is based in a quiet suburb in the south of the city, and Ms Wynne added that she was shocked that something like this could happen in the area.
“It’s such a nice area and it’s a kid’s establishment, this is not something that you hear. It’s something that you hear in maybe in America or something of someone with a gun running into a kid’s nursery.
“It was really shocking and worrying, but I’m really happy with the way they’ve dealt with it.”
Police are continuing with house-to-house enquiries in the local area and Detective Chief Inspector Webster called on the local community to help with the ongoing fight against gun crime.
He also confirmed that police are keeping an open mind in their investigation and urged anyone with information to contact the gun crime hotline on 0800 2300600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.