Armed police descend on Showcase Cinema in Liverpool after staff had 'gun pointed at them'

Armed response officers arrested the man at 4.46am on Thursday at an address in Fazakerley.

The man was said to have been "aggressive" when officers arrived at the property, with a taser having to be "deployed".

Merseyside Police were called to the cinema on East Lancashire Road at 8.50pm and released an appeal urging the public to steer clear minutes later.

Officers were alerted to three different shooting incidents in Liverpool yesterday.

A call was put out to the News and Booze store on Lower House Lane in Norris Green at around 8.30pm.

A third report was received at a property on Malpas Road at 10.20pm.

Nobody was injured during the incident but the shop assistant was extremely distressed by the ordeal.

The 49-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and robbery.

He was taken to a police station in Merseyside and remains in custody.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenn Wilson said: “I can report that a 49-year-old man has been arrested following three firearms discharges in the Croxteth and Norris Green areas last night.

"Thankfully incidents like this, involving a single offender in three separate shootings in close proximity and quick succession, are extremely rare and this is the first time we have had to deal with an incident of this nature on the streets of Merseyside.

“The shocking and distressing impact these incidents will have had on the shop assistant, the staff at the Showcase Cinema and those filmgoers who found themselves in a lockdown situation in the complex after shots were fired outside the cinema and the residents of Malpas Road cannot be underestimated.

“Officers were on the ground immediately following the first incident and were able to respond swiftly to the subsequent discharges, and a male was identified. located and arrested on suspicion of all three discharges within 13 hours."

She added: “Firearms have no place on our streets and we are committed to arresting those involved in gun crime and taking firearms off our streets."

Merseyside Police issued a further plea for anyone who has information relating to gun crime to contact the force.

Stonedale retail park and all shops within the area will remain closed while officers continue investigations.

A spokesperson for Showcase Cinemas said: "We are aware of an incident at our cinema and surrounding area in Liverpool.

"The safety and welfare of our staff and customers is always our number one priority and we can confirm no one was injured.

"We would like to thank our team members and the local police for their swift responses to this active investigation."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY GEORGE BUNN