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BLOODBATH
Plymouth shooting – Six dead as gunman ‘shoots his mum and a young girl’ before rampage ‘killing strangers and himself’
A GUNMAN left five dead including a child under ten in a suburban bloodbath last night — with his mum also said to be among the victims.
He reportedly used a long-barrelled gun and kicked in the door of a house before shooting at a woman and her five-year-old daughter in Plymouth.
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The man, dressed in black and grey, then ran into the street and continued his rampage, firing randomly at passers-by.
Minutes later he was dead on the pavement, having apparently turned the gun on himself.
Locals claimed the killer's mum and a child had died although there was no official confirmation.
Another claimed: “I heard someone say he shot his brother.”
Early today police confirmed three female victims had died along with three males - including the gunman. They stressed it was not terror-related.
Local MP Luke Pollard tweeted: "More people are being treated for their injuries in hospital.
"Just so unspeakably awful. My condolences and thoughts are with the families.
"I’m utterly devastated that one of the people killed was a child under ten years old."
'LOUD BANGS'
It was the first "active shooter" rampage seen in the UK for 11 years since cabbie Derrick Bird murdered 12 people in Cumbria in June 2010.
Gunfire erupted around 6pm on Biddick Drive, in the Keyham residential area near the docks.
Sharron Turner, 57, who lives nearby, said she heard shouting and saw a gunman dressed in black and grey, armed with a semi-automatic weapon.
She he “kicked in” the front door of a semi-detached house and shot a young mother and her daughter, aged about five.
The gunman escaped through a park behind the house towards North Down Crescent where he shot two dog walkers, she claimed.
I heard someone say he had shot his brother
Sharron Turner
Sharron added: “We heard a number of loud bangs which I said sounded like gunshots.
"Then he ran into the park and there were further shots. I heard someone say he had shot his brother."
The killer is then said to have marauded along nearby Henderson Place where it is claimed a woman was shot outside a hair salon.
Robert Pinkerton, 54, told PlymouthLive he turned a corner and bumped into the gunman, then "swerved" when he saw the gun.
He added that he spotted another man tending to an injured woman in the doorway of a hairdressers.
At least four air ambulances were scrambled to the scene as cops sealed off a school and sports centre and told residents to stay inside.
Footage circulating online appeared to show a bloodied victim lying on the ground covered in a blanket, surrounded by armed police.
'GRIM DAY'
Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer called it "A truly devastating day".
Earlier he had echoed pleas for locals not to post photos of victims online.
He tweeted: "I am aware of a serious and tragic incident unfolding in Plymouth.
"Please obey all instructions from the Police and do not post rumour or speculation on social media."
Mr Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport, told residents to "stay indoors" as news of the shooting broke.
He added: "Awaiting confirmation of number of victims but this looks like a very grim day for our city and our community."
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected. I have spoken to the Chief Constable and offered my full support.
"I urge everyone to remain calm, follow police advice and allow our emergency services to get on with their jobs."
Devon and Cornwall Police said early on Friday: "Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm yesterday.
"Officers and ambulance staff attended the scene. Following attendance at the scene, two females and two males were deceased at the scene.
"A further male, believed to be the offender, was also deceased at the scene. All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.
"Another female treated at the scene for gunshot wounds, died a short time later in hospital.
"All of the next of kin of the deceased have been located and informed by Devon & Cornwall Police officers. We would stress this is not a terrorism related incident.
"The area has been cordoned off and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
"Investigations are continuing into the incident and disruption to the road network in the Keyham will remain throughout the night.
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"Police continue to ask any members of the public with mobile phone footage of the immediate aftermath of the incident not to post this on social media platforms and to respect those families who have lost loved ones this evening."
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South Western Ambulance spokesman said: "We were called at 18.12 to an ongoing incident in Plymouth.
"We responded to the incident with a significant number of resources, including Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics."
FIRST ACTIVE SHOOTER IN 11 YEARS
The Plymouth rampage was the first time an active shooter has been on the loose in the UK since Derrick Bird's killing spree in west Cumbria on June 2, 2010.
Twelve people died including the gunman, his twin brother David and the family's solicitor.
After first murdering his brother and a colleague, the 52-year-old taxi driver drove through rural west Cumbria and fired at random people on country roads and in villages before finally killing himself.
Bird was said to have argued with colleagues on the taxi rank the night before and told one: "You won't see me again."
Eleven victims survived the shooting but some ended up with life-changing injuries.
The horror left a lasting mark on the victims' families and friends as well as those who witnessed the rampage.
It was the biggest mass shooting since Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and a teacher at Dunblane Primary School, Scotland, in 1996. He also shot himself.
The massacre sparked reform of Britain's gun laws, which became among the strictest in the world.
In 1987, unemployed builder Michael Ryan rampaged through Hungerford, Berks, for several hours with a handgun and two semi-automatic rifles.
He shot dead 16 people including an unarmed police officer and his own mother before killing himself.
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