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Car chase gang fire at police minutes before Anne's visit
Jack Lefley18 Dec 2008
A GANG of suspected armed robbers fired shots at police during a car chase that ended in a crash yards from a school where a royal visit was due to take place.
The trio sped off in a stolen Audi when officers challenged them, and unleashed a hail of bullets as they were pursued at high speed though west London.
The drama came to an end when they crashed with a police car blocking their path, leaving two officers needing hospital treatment. One man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The crash happened in front of Westminster Academy secondary school and sixth form in Harrow Road, Westbourne Green, shortly before Princess Anne was due to arrive.
But Buckingham Palace was alerted and the trip was called off with minutes to spare. A Palace spokeswoman said: "This happened 20 minutes before Princess Anne was due to leave Buckingham Palace. The visit was postponed."
The chase began after the silver Audi, which had been reported stolen, failed to stop for police in First Avenue, west Kilburn, shortly after 3pm yesterday. Officers from Paddington Green station pursued the vehicle to nearby Herries Street, past a primary school.
It was during that time that shots were fired through the rear window of the car, which the suspects eventually drove into a dirt track behind a bus garage in Westbourne Grove. There another shot was fired at police "at close range", Scotland Yard said.
The Audi then collided with a police vehicle waiting to stop it at the end of the track, in Harrow Road, and the three tried to flee on foot.
Officers gave chase and arrested two people - one on suspicion of attempted murder and the other for possession of a firearm and aggravated vehicle-taking without the owner's consent. The other suspect escaped after reportedly punching a passerby who tried to grab him.
Police recovered a gun at the scene. The two officers taken to hospital were later allowed home. Officers did not fire any shots and the police initially involved in the incident were not armed.
Reader views (8)
Good Job Police. Give the guys who stopped those toe rags a medal. It could have been wild shots killing innocents. "What Then"
- Ebin Donk, yo1 6ds, 18/12/2008 20:49
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..Notice how quiet Amnesty & Co., are on this story. They're probably forumulating a press statement on the 'yuman rites' of these sc*mbags to shoot unarmed police officers..
- Joannie, London, England, 18/12/2008 20:03
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Another two police officers shot at,Doesnt seem to seem much theses days,and of course the police have to prove they acted properly,Until sentences fit the crime this will continue.We seem to follow America in so many ways so ways,so lets see some American style sentences,
- Alfred Cochrane, London, 18/12/2008 15:52
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Buckingham Palace was alerted and the trip was called off with minutes to spare. A Palace spokeswoman said: "This happened 20 minutes before Princess Anne was due to leave Buckingham Palace. The visit was postponed." Pity.
- Daniel, London, 18/12/2008 15:47
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The PC's in the patrol unit that was rammed should get some form of commendation. They have taken out the car that they would have know was carrying criminals with firearms.
This sort of story always get forgotten when an officer REALLY need to pull the trigger.
Well done the Police you get my support
- Liberal Thinker, UK, 18/12/2008 13:36
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It is so refreshing to see old fashioned policing taking place.
Two armed criminals stopped and arrested by unarmed police.
Take armed police off our streets it is totally unacceptable that nearly all confrontations with armed police end up with innocent men being killed.
The standards required to be accepted for training as a police officer has dropped so low that we have people who are not suitable ending up as policemen/women on our streets. Then when they have been accepted they manage to be designated 'firearms officers' who as the recent Menezes killing shows have not been trained, or are not capable of being trained, how to act in stressful situations!
- Des Egan, london, 18/12/2008 12:51
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Two police men taken to hospital, an attempted robbery, Princess Ann's visit cancelled, a car stolen and smashed up, and the poor law enforcers feel they need to point out that they were not carrying firearms...is it any wonder that there is terror on the streets when the people who are there to protect us have to justify saying boo to a goose?
- Virginia, london, england, 18/12/2008 12:34
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It's a pity that these low-life didn't stumble across the Royal protection party.
- Mike, London, 18/12/2008 12:27
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