Cricketers run for cover after crossbow bolt lands on pitch
CRICKETERS and fans were evacuated from The Oval ground yesterday after a crossbow bolt was fired on to the pitch.
The metal-tipped bolt was fired from outside the south London home of Surrey County Cricket club and landed between two fielders.
An astonished bowler was stopped in his tracks as the arrow landed a few yards from him during the Surrey versus Middlesex match.
An umpire picked it up and, as players ran for the safety of the pavilion, spectators were urged to take cover before being evacuated.
Middlesex County Cricket Club said on Twitter: “Play suspended at the Oval on advice of security.
“Players have left the field after a crossbow bolt landed on the square.”
Surrey player Stuart Meaker tweeted: “We have just officially gone off the field because a metal tipped arrow just landed on the pitch!!”
The 12 to 18-inch bolt is believed to have been fired from the gas holder end of the famous ground in Kennington. Experts say it travelled about 150 yards and must have been fired from “a very powerful crossbow”.
The player nearest the spot where it landed was Surrey’s Ollie Pope.
A Met spokesman said police are reviewing CCTV footage from outside the ground in the hunt for the shooter.
He added: “The incident is not being treated as terrorism related.”
He said officers carried out a “controlled evacuation” of the ground and that police are keeping an “open mind” about the motive. There were no reports of injuries.
The match was abandoned as a draw with Middlesex 214 for seven in their second innings. Middlesex were leading by 181 runs with three wickets in hand. Middlesex fan Jeremy Lawrence said: “I was sitting by the players’ entrance and I saw all of the players and the umpires run off the pitch. I thought, ‘It’s not raining, what’s going on?’ It was a very ghastlylooking thing. It could have done damage to everybody.”
England and Middlesex batsman Nick Compton joked on Twitter: “Sir Robin of Loxley [Robin Hood] has just arrived at the Oval.”
But BBC commentator Dan Norcross said later: “I can’t stress enough what a dangerous weapon this arrow was. It could so easily have hurt someone and it landed eight yards from about five players.”
Officers arrested a man on suspicion of carrying a knife at Westminster Cathedral yesterday afternoon.