Police respond to spate of gun offences across the city over bank holiday weekend

Aug 27 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

TWO doormen were seriously injured, a house shot at and police called to a pub in a series of gun-related incidents across the city during the weekend.

The first incident on Friday night was at Alma de Santiago nightclub, in Penny Lane, at 10.30pm when the two men were shot.

One of the victims suffered a stomach injury and is in a critical condition. The other is being treated for leg wounds in hospital.

Roads around the nightclub, in the Mossley Hill area of the city, were cordoned off as officers carried out inquiries. Speaking about the bar where the doormen were shot, a resident, who did not want to be identified, said: “There has been no trouble like this here before, it is usually quiet.

“The pub changed hands approximately two years ago when it was called The Dovedale Towers, it was a neighbourhood pub then.

“The bar has become expensive and gone up-market in a bid to improve the area.”

The injured doormen were aged 35 and 44, and police said they did not yet have a possible motive for the attack.

Officers believe a gunman travelled to the scene in a dark- coloured hatchback car, which may have had other passengers.

The second incident at 6.30pm on Saturday saw shots being fired on Belmont Drive, in Tuebrook. No-one was injured, and a 48-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

Officers have said that the road was busy at the time of the incident and are appealing for anyone who saw what happened to contact them.

A sighting of a gunman outside a Liverpool pub led to panic yesterday afternoon. Bystanders spotted a man near the Knotty Ash pub, holding a handgun in the street. Police officers arrived at the scene soon after the calls were made and arrested a man on Thomas Lane.

The man, who was arrested near the junction with Rudyard Road, was found in possession of a replica handgun which fired blanks.

Merseyside Police are now appealing for any witnesses to the incident to get in touch on 0151 709 6010, or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.