Police shoot man who allegedly fired crossbow at officers

POLICE shot a man after he fired a crossbow at them following a seven-hour stand-off outside a house in North Ayrshire.
A man has been shot after he allegedly fired a crossbow at officers.A man has been shot after he allegedly fired a crossbow at officers.
A man has been shot after he allegedly fired a crossbow at officers.

Armed officers were called to a report of a 24-year-old man barricaded inside a property at Bankfauld Avenue in Kilbirnie at around 5:30am yesterday.

He was shot by officers and removed from the premises at around 12:20pm. He was taken to hospital in Kilmarnock but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

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No other people were injured during the incident and officers are not seeking anyone else in relation to it.

This is understood to be the first time officers have used their guns since the formation of Police Scotland.

Force watchdog the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) has now launched an investigation into the shooting incident.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham described how events unfolded.

He said: “A 24-year-old man has been shot by police following the alleged discharge of a crossbow at officers. The man had earlier barricaded himself within a property in Bankfaulds Avenue, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.

“He has been taken by ambulance to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, for treatment. At this time it is not considered that his injuries are serious nor life-threatening.

“No other people were injured in the incident, which concluded at 12:20pm this afternoon. Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with this incident. Enquiries are continuing.

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“As is procedure, the matter will be referred to PIRC – Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.”

PIRC is an independent organisation not connected to the police whose role is to undertake independent investigations into the most serious incidents involving the police, such as shootings and deaths in custody, and to provide independent scrutiny of the way police bodies operating in Scotland respond to complaints from the public.

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