There was tension and panic in Eastleigh on Tuesday evening after a man suspected to be a terrorist fired several shots outside Yare Towers and escaped in a waiting vehicle.
The incident happened just after 6:30 PM. According to witnesses, the man was standing near the entrance of the busy building when a crowd started gathering around him.
In a video shared online, people can be heard shouting at him, telling him to draw his weapon.
Moments later, he pulled out a pistol and fired three bullets into the air. One of the bullets is reported to have hit a mobile phone on display at a nearby shop. No injuries were reported, but there was a lot of fear and confusion as people ran for their lives.
Shops closed down immediately as traders and shoppers rushed to safety. Some property was damaged in the chaos that followed.
After firing the shots, the man climbed onto the side of a white Toyota Land Cruiser, fired another shot, and quickly got inside. Several other unknown individuals also entered the car before it sped off.
Police from Eastleigh North Police Station arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. Detectives have now launched investigations and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspect and his accomplices. They are also trying to establish whether the shooting was linked to any ongoing threats or criminal activity.
“This is a very serious matter,” said one shop owner who witnessed the scene. “If this was a terror suspect, then we need tighter security. We are not safe.”
As of now, no official statement has been released by the police. Many residents and business owners in Eastleigh are calling on the government to increase security patrols, especially in busy areas like Yare Towers.