Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Tom Duffy

Suspected shooting now being treated as brick attack

A suspected shooting in Skelmersdale is now said to have involved only bricks and stones.

Police were called to a flat on Fairstead in the Birch Green area of the town at around 3.50am today (Monday) after a number of windows were damaged.

Officers initially believed a gun had been fired at the property.

READ MORE: Disgraced policeman who took murder scene selfie had images of 'extreme pornography'

Forensic officers were seen working at the scene this morning when they appeared to be looking for evidence in a front garden.

Detectives arrived at the scene at lunchtime.

Locals told the ECHO they did not hear any loud noises in the night and seemed baffled by the police presence in the area.

This afternoon Lancashire Police said a gun had not been used and that the damage had been caused by bricks and stones.

The force described the incident as 'targeted.'

A spokesperson said: "You may have seen reports in the media that we were called at 3.50am today (Monday, January 10th) to a report of a suspected firearms discharge in Skelmersdale.

"Officers attended an address in Fairstead where it was initially believed a firearm had been discharged towards a property and damage caused to a number of windows.

"Following further investigations we are now confident that no firearm has been used and the damage was caused to the windows of the property by bricks and stones.

"Fortunately no-one was injured. Enquiries are continuing into the incident which is now being treated as criminal damage. We believe the incident to be isolated and targeted.

"We hope that this update offers some reassurance to anyone who may have been concerned by the earlier reports."

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.