Gun incidents in Great Britain

After four men reportedly stole a woman’s suitcase in a car park lift at Heathrow Airport, Greater London, they allegedly sprayed what was believed to be pepper spray in her direction. 21 others, including a child, were injured during the attack. Five of the victims were taken to hospital. One man has since been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Peter Ian Yandell, aged 37, has been jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, breaching a suspended sentence and possession of an imitation firearm. In June 2025, police officers searching Yandell’s vehicle workshop in Tredegar, Monmouthshire discovered drugs, specialist equipment used to manufacture illicit substances and an imitation firearm.

After an injured peregrine was found in the Peak District National Park, X-rays revealed it had been shot in the wing with a shotgun. While it is not known where or when the bird was shot, the extent of its injuries makes it unlikely to have been far from where it was found. Peregrines are legally protected and it is a criminal offence to intentionally injure or kill them under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Corrin Freeman, aged 23, has been handed a suspended fourteen-month prison term, and ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation days, after admitting possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause a fear of violence. In March 2024, Freeman verbally abused a man and pointed an imitation revolver at his head after he complained about the smell of cannabis coming from Freeman’s flat in Leeds, West Yorkshire. As the victim tried to grab the gun, Freeman attempted to hit him with it. The man escaped after pushing his assailant back into his flat. During interview, Freeman told officers he had used the gun to scare the victim.

A man allegedly fired a gun towards a house in Salford, Greater Manchester after arriving on an electric bike with a second man. A woman suffered a minor injury as a result of the attack. Two men have since been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the death of a teenage male in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. The youth was being taken to hospital in an ambulance when the vehicle stopped on the M5 due to concerns of the ambulance staff. Police were called in when the teenager exited the vehicle and walked onto the motorway. After officers tried to engage with him, the male was tasered. He fell to the ground and was hit by a car. He died at the scene shortly afterwards.

It has emerged that police officers found a gun at a property in Wolverhampton, West Midlands in February this year. A man has now been remanded in custody following charges of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Police officers responded following an incident involving a firearm in the town centre of Witham, Essex. A man has since been charged in connection with the case.

Following a report of a shotgun in the garden of a property in Billingham, Co. Durham, police officers arrested two men on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Both men have been remanded in custody until they appear in court.

It has emerged that a football agent allegedly threatened a football player with a gun in North London in September this year. Police were informed but no arrests have been reported.