Lynn pupils caught in gun drama
Armed police cordoned off a school and rushed pupils back inside as reports of a gunman uin a nearby house came in just as the end-of-day bell went yesterday.
Some parents were stuck inside Whitefriars Primary with their children while others had no choice but to wait outside watching the drama unfold.
Parent Paul Hampson (37), of North Everard Street, who has children Jade (ten) and Danielle (seven) at the school, said: "I was coming along the road and police cars went skidding past.
"They shut the road off immediately and we saw police with all the kids running them into the school. They told us there was a siege going on. It was very worrying."
Lynn operations Superintendent Nick Dean said there had been a report of a man firing a gun in a house in Whitefriars Road, but the situation was quickly under control.
He said: "Our primary concern, clearly with this being by a school, was the security of the children.
"The initial response was trying to put a cordon on the area, make sure the witness was OK and negotiate the person out.
"We had really good cooperation from the headmaster who kept the children inside and parents who cooperated by bearing with us."
Superintendent Dean said officers did not fire any shots and no one was injured. A gun was recovered from the scene.
Police spokesman Nina White said police were called at 2.45pm and by 3.45pm a man was under arrest and children could leave the school, but police remained on the scene to carry out a search of the house.
She described the incident as "domestic".
Susan King (31), of South Lynn, was inside the school to pick up children Philip (seven) and Alice (five).
She said: "I think we are all a bit shocked. We were told we weren't allowed out of the school because there was a man round here with a shotgun.
"I didn't know where my son was at first. I've never been so relieved to see him in all my life."
Norfolk County Council education spokesman Kate Gooding said: "Staff and pupils all remained calm."
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
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