Catapults and bow and arrow used in attacks
ARMED crime in the West took a distinctly medieval twist at the weekend - with two police forces swooping after offences involving a catapult and a bow and arrow.
It might sound like the sort of mischief found in the pages of a Just William adventure - but officers have warned of the consequences of these dangerous weapons.
Two people were arrested in Downton, near Salisbury, on suspicion of firing ball-bearings from a catapult through the windows of a house.
And in a separate incident a further two people were arrested in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, following reports of a “number of arrows being fired”.
A police helicopter was sent to this incident.
Wiltshire Police say that at about 10.15pm on Saturday a car was seen pulling up next to two addresses on Roman Meadows in Downton.
The occupants of the vehicle are believed to have fired at the windows of two properties causing some to break. The car then drove off.
Although shaken, no-one inside either property was hurt.
Detectives arrested a 13-yearold boy and a 55-year-old man from the local area on Sunday.
The boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and malicious communications; the man on suspicion of aiding and abetting criminal damage and criminal damage.
They were both in custody yesterday.
Detectives recovered a number of catapults and ball-bearings as well as the car suspected of being used.
Acting Inspector Tracey Holloway said: “Our officers attended the addresses quickly and have been working with the victims to help them following what was a traumatic incident.
“We are aware that this would have caused some concern and distress in the community and wish to reassure people that two individuals have been arrested in relation to this incident and we will be continuing to carry out extra patrols in the area.”
Some 20 minutes after police were called to the catapult incident in Wiltshire their counterparts in Avon and Somerset were called to Worle after arrows hit a woman and a car window.
A police spokesman said officers attended Queen’s Way shortly after 10.35pm, following reports of “a number of arrows being fired”.
He added: “Officers, including an armed unit, attended and found one arrow had damaged a car window and the second had struck a female in the leg. She suffered no injury.
“An area search was subsequently carried out, with assistance from the police helicopter. A bow and arrows were also discovered and seized by officers.
“Two males, aged 18 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of affray, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and attempted wounding with intent.
“The teenager has been released on conditional bail, while the 34-year-old has been released with no further action planned.”