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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Olivia Williams

Police move to reassure parents after schoolgirl, 15, shot

Police have issued a message to parents and the community after a teenage girl was shot.

On Tuesday, March 1, at around 5.10pm it was reported a 15-year-old girl had been shot at a bus stop in Toxteth.

Emergency services attended the scene, on Upper Warwick Street, and found the schoolgirl with serious injuries.

READ MORE: Live updates as Nigel Diakite accused of murdering girlfriend N’Taya Elliott-Cleverley

She was rushed to hospital in a "critical" condition, however police said she is now in a "serious but stable condition".

Following the shocking incident, police have issued a message of reassurance for parents and the wider public.

Speaking at a press conference today, Superintendent Diane Pownall said police will be "out in greater numbers" in Toxteth.

Police remain at the scene in Toxteth (Liverpool Echo)

She added a specialist officer will also be working with the victim's school and to "allay concerns" the teenager's friends may have.

Supt Pownall said: "What I am encouraging people to do is when you see officers or if you want to go and visit officers, please come and speak to us and trust us with any information you hold that could help to progress our investigation.

"We are patrolling all parts of the community in Toxteth where this horrendous occurred, we are also directly linked in to the school where the victim of last night's shooting attends.

"So that is a safer schools officer, who is a specialist in schools policing, working with the headteacher and the safeguarding team within schools.

"In order to answer questions or concerns from the victim's friends and year groups to allay those concerns and talk to them with any questions they may have as a result of what happened last night to essentially an innocent member of the public going about their business."

Bullet hole on Upper Warwick Street, Toxteth where a 15 year old girl was shot in Liverpool. (LIVERPOOL ECHO)

In a message to parents, Supt Pownall said police are "doing everything" to progress the investigation "at pace".

She added: "We are looking to get support from the community to progress that further.

"We have already made two arrests and any small piece of information would really help us to progress this further.

"Parents can be reassured that my officers will be in and around schools and the key locations in the vicinity of this shooting to offer reassurance, to talk to members of the public and we will answer any concerns if they want to come talk to us."

Police also said in the press conference today, they believe the incident was as a result of "a number of individuals on up to four bikes".

Detectives believe the suspects were travelling on electric bikes.

Speaking at today's press conference, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: "We were called about 5.10pm yesterday evening to a person having been shot at bus stop as a result of a number of individuals on up to four bikes.

"We believe they could have been electric bikes.

"At this moment in time, we believe shots were fired from one or more people on those bikes.

"All of the people on the bikes were wearing dark clothing, face masks or some form of face covering like a balaclava.

"Once the shooting had taken place, we believe the bikes made off towards the North Hill Street and Princes Road area of this city which is very close to where the attack took place."

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen added the 15-year-old suffered "devastating" injuries to her upper body and that it is a "miracle" that she survived.

A short time later, a 21-year-old man, turned up at hospital with a gunshot injury to his hand. The injury was not life threatening.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

A 60-year-old man from Toxteth has now also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police remain at the scene and on nearby roads today carrying out house-to-house, forensic and CCTV enquiries.

Anyone with information is being urged to DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 anonymously quoting log 647 of 1 March.

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