Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Independent TV

Showing now | News

Off-duty volunteer police officer disarms suspected gunman in Birmingham coffee shop

00:40

Suspected gunman disarmed in Birmingham coffee shop by off-duty volunteer police officer

A brave off-duty volunteer police officer disarmed a suspected gunman moments after a gunshot was fired near a Birmingham coffee shop.

Abdullah Bin Imad was about to get some food when he saw two men acting suspiciously.

After becoming increasingly concerned about their behaviour, he moved into a coffee shop to phone 999 to report that he believed the men may have had a gun.

Seconds later, a shot was fired and Abdullah ran out of the shop, detained one of the men and recovered a firearm.

CCTV shows Abdullah restraining the man and keeping the gun out of reach until armed officers arrived minutes later.

The gun was later established as a blank-firing weapon.

Abdullah, 22, who is an electrical engineer, said: “I wanted the suspect off the street and as far away from the public as possible.

“I was worried for other people’s safety because of what - from my point of view - I believed it to be a live and viable firearm.”

Up next

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in