Woman shot by police after knife report

A woman in her 50s is in a critical condition after she was shot by police following reports she was armed with a knife.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses after the woman was shot in the lower abdomen by a firearms officer in North Hill Street in Toxteth, Liverpool, at about 2pm on Thursday.

Merseyside Police were called to reports of a woman armed with a knife and acting in a threatening manner.

A spokesman for the IOPC said a Taser was discharged, but they could not confirm if it made contact with the woman.

Police are continuing to search for her next of kin, the spokesman said.

IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe said: “This is a tragic incident and my thoughts are with all those affected by the events yesterday.

“We hope to meet with the woman’s family in due course to explain our role and offer our support.

“Our role when someone is seriously injured as the result of police action, is to establish all of the circumstances surrounding how this incident occurred.”