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College closed after shots fired to reopen

Emily Johnsonand
Flora Grafton,Yorkshire
News imageBBC/Simon Thake A marked police car parked in the street outside a large building. A sign on the building says Longley Park Sixth Form.BBC/Simon Thake
Longley Park Sixth Form closed as a result of the incident nearby

A sixth form college which closed for the day after gunmen fired shots at a nearby house has confirmed it will "reopen as normal" on Thursday.

South Yorkshire Police said officers were called to reports of a firearm being discharged outside a property in Horninglow Road, in Sheffield, at about 04.42 BST, near to Longley Park Sixth Form Academy.

The force said it happened shortly after a similar attack on a property in Swanbourne Road. Nobody was hurt in either incident.

The college, which said it was "not in any way connected" to the shooting in Horninglow Road, added "all students should attend as usual" on Thursday.

Police were called to the first incident in Swanbourne Road at about 04.31, following reports shots had been fired at a house on the street by two men on an electric-style bike.

They said the attack in Horninglow Road, 11 minutes later, had been carried out in the "same circumstances".

News imageBBC/Simon Thake A broken window. There is a large hole in the glass window pane, with cracks radiating out from the centre. Behind the glass a net curtain can be seen hanging down.BBC/Simon Thake
Damage could be seen to a window and door frame at a house in Horninglow Road

A police cordon was in place in Horninglow Road, between Barnsley Road and the junction with Tideswell Road, from the early hours of the morning but has since been removed.

Longley Park Sixth Form Academy issued an update this afternoon, which said: "We have received confirmation the incident which prevented access to our site has now concluded.

"The academy will reopen as normal tomorrow (24 September), and all students should attend as usual."

News imageBBC/Simon Thake A residential street is cordoned off with bright yellow police tape, with several South Yorkshire Police vehicles parked along the road. A police officer in a high‑visibility vest stands facing the taped‑off area.BBC/Simon Thake
A cordon was in place earlier around Horninglow Road

Supt Martin Simcock said: "These are serious incidents and I know that the public will rightly be concerned.

"When reckless individuals discharge a deadly weapon, they put innocent lives at risk.

"Our officers will work around the clock to bring the suspects to justice.

"We will also have an increased officer presence in the area in the coming days for the reassurance and safety of the public."

Longley Park Sixth Form Academy earlier said it took the decision to close due to the incident "affecting access to Horninglow Road".

It added at the time: "To make it clear, this incident is not in any way connected to Longley Park Sixth Form."

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