Police make further arrest after gel blaster incidents

Officers have arrested a second suspect after a number of people were shot at with a gel gun from a passing vehicle.

The incidents happened in the Bestwood and Sherwood areas of Nottingham between 5.40pm and 7.25pm on Wednesday 16 October. 

Police believe the weapon used was a gel blaster which fires water-based pellets rather than hard pellets. The weapon has since been recovered.  

Two victims were hit in their leg and hand during an incident in Beckhampton Road in Bestwood at 5.40pm. 

A pedestrian was then hit in the face by a pellet shortly after 6pm at the junction of Beckhampton Road and Bestwood Drive.

Four people were then reportedly shot at from a moving vehicle in Winchester Street just after 7.20pm. 

No serious injuries were reported following the incidents.

Police have now arrested a second suspect - an 18-year-old man - who was detained last night (Wednesday 30 October) on suspicion of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

It follows the arrest of an 18-year-old woman, on Monday (29 October), on suspicion of the same offence.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Malik, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We’ve now made a further arrest following extensive inquiries into these incidents, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with our investigation.

“These gel guns, which are typically sold as toys, are capable of causing serious injury if they hit someone in their face.

“We won’t tolerate people deliberately causing panic and alarm within our communities and putting people’s safety at risk by acting in this way.

“Aside from the danger they pose to the public, we are also concerned that people may mistake them for actual firearms and report them to us inaccurately.

“This will likely result in officers and a firearms team being sent to an incident which they don’t need to be at, potentially putting those in real emergency situations at risk.”

Both 18-year-old suspects have since been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.