Gun incidents in Great Britain

Liam Jonathan, aged 36, has been jailed for fourteen months after pleading guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear. In May 2025, Jonathan was seen pointing a gun at a bridge in Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf before approaching people at a bus stop while holding the weapon. He told them he had “done time in prison for armed robbery” and that he had the gun “to protect women, children and himself from gangsters and drug dealers”. He then told them that the weapon was, in fact, a water pistol. After the bus arrived, Jonathan lifted his top revealing the handle of the gun to the driver. Responding police officers seized an unloaded non-functioning air pistol before recovering a kitchen knife and a screwdriver from Jonathan’s bag. The court heard that, at the time of the incident, Jonathan had been suffering a hypomanic episode, having stopped taking medication for his bipolar disorder.

A man attended hospital after being shot at a property in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. His injuries were later described as neither life threatening nor life changing. No arrests have yet been reported.

A man was treated in hospital for an arm injury after being shot in an underpass in Oxford, Oxfordshire. No arrests have yet been reported.

After police searched an address in Bracknell, Berkshire, two men were charged with one count each of possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate and possession of the component parts of ammunition. Both men were remanded in custody until their court appearance.

Following a fire at an industrial building in Hythe, Kent, firefighters discovered firearms on the premises. The weapons were safely recovered by police officers. No arrests have been reported.

A man died at the scene after being shot on a street in Stonebridge, North London. No arrests have yet been reported. Police appealed for information, particularly from a large group of people thought have been nearby at the time of the attack.

A man from Beccles, East Suffolk was found in possession of an air rifle after previously being banned from owning weapons. He has since admitted possession of a firearm when prohibited and affray.

Schools in Cardiff, South Wales were placed in lockdown following reports of a person seen with a firearm. A man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded/unloaded air weapon in a public place. No injuries were reported and it was confirmed that no threats had been made.

Greg McCubbin, aged 33, has been handed a community payback order with 180 hours of unpaid work and a 90-day restriction of liberty order after admitting being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug and unlawful possession of a stun gun. McCubbin was found in possession of the stun gun at his home in Oakley, Fife in January 2024.

Jamie White, aged 46 and from Maidstone, Kent, has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding and three charges relating to possessing an axe and knuckle-duster, and threatening another with a hammer. In June 2025, following a row over payment for a boat, White brandished a meat cleaver or machete and threatened to cut off his ex-brother-in-law’s fingers. He went on to brandish a hammer at him before firing a BB gun that resembled a handgun, causing twelve wounds to his victim’s head, face, neck, chest and arm. Three pellets also hit White’s grandfather in the head neck and elbow. In an impact statement, the first victim said he now suffers chronic stress and facial paralysis, and has been left unable to work.