Taxi driver goes on a shooting spree in sleepy towns of northern Britain, killing a dozen and injuring another 25 before taking his own life
Taxi driver goes on a shooting spree in sleepy towns of northern Britain, killing a dozen and injuring another 25 before taking his own life
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At least 12 people have been killed and 25 injured after a gunman -- believed to be a local taxi driver -- went on a shooting spree through three small towns in the English county of Cumbria yesterday.
After a large scale search, Cumbria police found the body of the suspected gunman, 52-year-old Derrick Bird, in a wooded area of Boot, a village in the Lake District, a popular tourist area.
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| In loving memory: A police officer lays a floral tribute on Duke St in Whitehaven, Cumbria yesterday. Pics/AFP |
Authorities seized a gun from the scene where the body was found. Cumbria Police Deputy Constable Stuart Hyde said investigators believe Bird committed suicide.
Motive unknown
Police were working at 30 separate crime scenes and are still attempting to determine the motive, Hyde said. Investigators are looking at Bird's history and his access to firearms, he said.
Police named Bird as a suspect following reports of the first shooting mid-morning yesterday in the Irish Sea port town of Whitehaven.
Authorities said, "Our thoughts are with the families in these tragic times. We are asking for any witnesses to come forward and help us with our investigation."
British Prime Minister, David Cameron said the government would do whatever it could to help the communities affected.
"When lives are suddenly shattered in this way, our thoughts should be with all those caught up in these tragic events," he said.
Armed police patrols and dog squads were dispatched in the hunt for the gunman after the first shots were fired at 10.35 am (3 pm IST) in Whitehaven.
Police issued a photo ofu00a0 Bird and urged members of the public to stay indoors until further notice.
More shots were fired in the small towns of Seascale and Egremont, with officers attempting to track the suspect on land and by air.
Bird's last call
Peter Leder, who said he was a friend of Bird's, said he spoke to Bird last night and was told, "You won't see me again."
Leder said Bird has been an independent taxi driver in Whitehaven for more than 20 years and described him as "an outgoing, well-known guy, who everyone liked."
Back in 1987
yesterday's killings in the Lake District brought back horrific memories of the massacres in Hungerford and Dunblane. It was on August 19 1987 that loner and gun fanatic Michael Ryan went on a shooting rampage in Hungerford, a market town in Berkshire.
Armed with an automatic rifle, a pistol and at least one hand grenade he shot 16 people dead, including his mother, before killing himself.
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