Woman ‘armed with knife’ is shot by police in Liverpool

Woman ‘armed with knife’ is shot by officers in Liverpool leaving her with injuries to her ‘upper body’ as video emerges showing moment she was handcuffed and arrested while force refers incident to police watchdog

  • Merseyside Police said officers were called to reports of a woman carrying knife
  • Officers swooped on Cairns Street in the Toxteth area of the city at 1.50pm today
  • Resident Mohammad Shopon said he heard a band that ‘sounded like fireworks’
  • Merseyside Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct

A woman ‘armed with a knife’ has been taken to hospital after being shot by police in Liverpool.

Merseyside Police said officers were called to reports of a woman carrying a blade on Cairns Street in Toxteth at 1.50pm.

The woman was shot, suffering an injury to her upper body, and has been taken to hospital. Her condition is not yet known.

Footage showed officers pin the suspect to the ground and handcuff her as she screams out in pain.

Merseyside Police said officers were called to reports of a woman carrying a blade on Cairns Street in Toxteth at 1.50pm on Thursday

The woman was shot, suffering an injury to her upper body, and has been taken to hospital. Her condition is not yet known

The woman was shot, suffering an injury to her upper body, and has been taken to hospital. Her condition is not yet known

Witness Mohammad Shopon told the Liverpool Echo: ‘I was outside my house and I heard like a bang, it sounded like fireworks.

‘I walked a little bit further and I saw about seven or eight armed police officers in the street.

‘I didn’t see what happened but it looks serious. There are lots of rumours going around.’

Mohammad Shopon, who lives nearby, told the Liverpool Echo: 'I was outside my house and I heard like a bang, it sounded like fireworks'

Mohammad Shopon, who lives nearby, told the Liverpool Echo: ‘I was outside my house and I heard like a bang, it sounded like fireworks’

A police spokesman said: ‘Patrols attended the scene and a female was shot by police and suffered an injury to her upper body. The woman has been taken to hospital for treatment.

‘An investigation is underway and the area is currently cordoned off. The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’

The force said officers were still dealing with the incident. Photos showed a number of police cars and an ambulance at the scene.

An ambulance spokesman added: ‘We were called to an incident on that street at 2pm.

‘We attended with a resource from our hazardous area response team, a rapid response vehicle, ambulance, advanced paramedic and tactical commander.

‘We have taken a patient to hospital but I’m afraid it’s a police incident so I can’t provide any further details.’

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