Two teenagers arrested over Auchinleck airgun shooting

Published on Wednesday 23 February 2011 15:48

POLICE have arrested two teenagers in connection with an incident in an East Ayrshire town involving an airgun in which several schoolpupils were injured.

An 18-year-old male and 15-year-old boy have been detained, Strathclyde Police said.

Eleven youngsters, five females and six males, aged between 12 and 16, received injuries to the legs and torso.

Police confirmed that the pupils from Auchinleck Academy suffered minor injuries, with remaining at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.

The incident happened less than half a mile from the school and near a Co-Op food store.

A police statement officers were at the scene carrying out "extensive enquiries".

A statement from East Ayrshire Council said: "The school responded immediately, informing the police and parents of the children involved, and sought appropriate medical attention.

"The council is working closely with the school to ensure that the school, the children and their families are appropriately supported."

Auchinleck Academy is a comprehensive secondary school with around 950 pupils.

Recently the town's junior football club Auchinleck Talbot was in the news following crowd trouble at a match against nearby Cumnock.

Local Labour MP and MSP Cathy Jamieson said: "This incident highlights the dangers these weapons pose to our communities.

"I will be working hard both at Westminster and Holyrood in the days and weeks ahead.

"The police in Auchinleck dealt with this serious situation and I am pleased that an individual is now in custody."

Scotland's Education Secretary Michael Russell said: "My thoughts are with the pupils and families involved in this extremely disturbing incident - concern about the misuse of air weapons is widespread and long-standing in Scotland.

"The Scottish Government is in contact with both Strathclyde Police and East Ayrshire Council about what happened, and ministers are being kept fully informed.

"Responsibility for air weapons is to be transferred from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament, and action will follow."