Copter hunt for ‘rider with firearm’

POLICE in Bristol launched a search involving a helicopter following reports of a moped rider with a ‘suspected firearm’ in Bristol.

A sighting was first reported by a resident in Fishponds at around 10.30am yesterday. Other people reported to a local Facebook group that the police helicopter was in the area of Kingswood Park shortly afterwards.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed officers were searching for a moped being driven the wrong way in Moravian Road, Kingswood.

In a statement, a spokesperson said officers received a call from a member of the public who believed they saw part of a ‘suspected firearm’ in the rider’s clothing.

Police attended with support from the National Police Air Service helicopter and carried out a search, but it proved fruitless. They said they were still attempting to identify the rider.

The resident living in the Fishponds area reported at around 10.30am: “Police helicopter has been circling over my house for the last 10 minutes.”

The police spokesperson said: “At about 10am (yesterday) we received a call from a member of the public who had seen a moped being driven the wrong way in Moravian Road, in Kingswood.

“The caller told police that as the moped passed they believed they saw part of a suspected firearm within the rider’s clothing.”