Skip to content

Three injured after shotgun fired in town centre

Rachael McMenemy
News imageLewis Adams/BBC Three people in white forensics suits kneeling on the ground outside a shop. They are all wearing face masks and the suit covers their heads. Police tape is attached to an orange cone several metres in front of them. Lewis Adams/BBC
A shotgun was fired on Monday evening which injured three people, police said

Three people have been injured and a teenage boy has been arrested after a shotgun was fired in a town centre, police said.

Essex Police was called to an incident in Market Place, Braintree, at about 22:10 BST on Monday.

Two teenage boys sustained potentially serious, but not life-threatening, facial injuries after the shooting involving two groups, the force said.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the shooting and remains in custody, police added.

News imageLewis Adams/BBC Police tape around bollards in the centre of town. There is an unused fountain in front of a brick built pub and a road runs through the centre of the market area.Lewis Adams/BBC
Several areas have been cordoned off by police throughout the town

A third person, not believed to be part of either group, was injured and taken to hospital, but his injuries are not thought to be serious, police added.

Ch Supt Rob Kirby said: "We are making good progress and believe that a shotgun had been fired once.

"We continue to believe this incident was directed by one specific group of people towards another specific group of people.

"Because of this we don't believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public."

He said officers were trying to locate four people, described as men or boys aged between their mid-teens or mid-20s, who were seen leaving the area following the shooting.

News imageLewis Adams/BBC Three people in white forensics suits on a pedestrianised area. Two are crouching down looking at something on the pavement. A third is walking away carrying a yellow marker. Lewis Adams/BBC
Police say there will be an increased presence of officers in the town

Several areas have been cordoned off throughout the town, police said.

A part of Rayne Road, between Francis Road and George Road, has been closed in connection with the incident, the force added.

Kirby said: "There are a number of scenes in place in Braintree town centre and we know this will have an impact on the community this morning.

"We are working to lift cordons as quickly as possible and minimise the disruption."

Anyone with information or footage of what happened has been urged to contact the force.

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.