Armed police have launched a manhunt in Bedfordshire after shots were fired near a school in Leighton Buzzard, forcing the school into lockdown and triggering a car chase that ended in a crash.
Bedfordshire Police were called to reports of a firearm discharge shortly before 3.30pm on Wednesday in Grebe Drive, Leighton Buzzard. A nearby lower school was placed in lockdown as a precaution for a short period, police said.
The school, Greenleas School, later said on its website that it would be open as normal on Thursday, thanking children, staff and parents for their composure and calm during the incident.
Specialist armed officers were deployed to the area and located a vehicle believed to be connected to the discharge. Officers then pursued the vehicle, leading to a chase of around ten miles that ended when the car collided with an unrelated vehicle in Porz Avenue, Dunstable.
One man was treated at the scene for minor injuries after the collision. The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot, and police said a manhunt had been launched to find them.
Porz Avenue remains closed between Boscombe Way and the Lovatt Road roundabout while emergency services deal with the scene, and residents have been urged to avoid the area. Extra scene guards have been deployed in Grebe Drive and along the A505.
In a post on social media, Bedfordshire Police said: “We understand this is a concerning incident but would like to reassure the public that a strong police presence will remain while initial enquiries take place.”
Police have asked anyone with information to contact them on 999, quoting Operation Tanglewood, the name given to the investigation.
The incident has alarmed residents of the estate near Astral Park, where roads were cordoned off as armed officers swarmed the area on Wednesday afternoon. The school lockdown, though brief, underlined how close the shooting came to children finishing their school day.
No arrests had been confirmed by Thursday morning, and the search for the suspects was continuing. Police have not said whether a weapon has been recovered, or what they believe the motive for the shooting may have been.
The investigation is continuing, and police have said they will provide further updates as enquiries progress. For now, the priority is finding those responsible and reassuring a community shaken by gunfire in broad daylight.
