Community shock as women hurt in Leeds attack involving crossbow
Victim seriously hurt in Leeds attack involving crossbow 'stable'
(about 5 hours later)
Police remain at the scene of the incident
Police removed the cordon on Otley Road on Sunday evening
A community is in "shock" after two women were seriously injured in an attack involving a crossbow in Leeds.
One of two women seriously injured in an attack involving a crossbow and a firearm in Leeds has undergone surgery for "life-threatening injuries".
Counter-terrorism police are investigating the incident, which happened on Otley Road, in the Headingley area, at about 14:47 BST yesterday.
Counter Terrorism Policing North East said the "isolated incident" involving the women aged 19 and 31, happened on Otley Road, in the Headingley area, at about 14:47 BST on Saturday.
Three people were found injured and taken to hospital - including the suspected attacker - on the popular Otley Run pub crawl route.
One of the women was sent home from hospital earlier while the other, who underwent surgery, was now in a stable condition, police said.
A 38-year-old man who suffered a "self-inflicted injury" was arrested and two weapons - a crossbow and a firearm - were recovered from the scene.
A 38-year-old man, who officers said was "the key suspect", remains in hospital in a critical condition, under police guard, after suffering a "self-inflicted injury".
Headingley resident Vasileios Balampanos described seeing the aftermath of what had happened on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Otley Road in Headingley while people were taking part in the popular Otley Run pub crawl.
"When I arrived, I drove down St Anne's Road and there were cordons and quite a few police cars," he said.
Cordons around the scene on Otley Road were removed on Sunday evening.
"I walked further down to have a look and there were a couple of ambulances."
Two weapons were recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm
Vasileios Balampanos says the area is usually quiet, apart from students doing the Otley Run
Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley said: "The investigation continues and officers are working at pace to establish the full facts and circumstances of Saturday's incident.
He said he saw somebody being treated by paramedics further up Otley Road and said he saw "a couple of distressed individuals, students mostly, talking about somebody being hurt".
"We are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this matter, which has caused understandable concern. We believe it was an isolated incident."
Mr Balampanos added the ambulance then left the scene with blue lights on and the area was cordoned off.
Alison Lowe, deputy mayor of West Yorkshire for policing and crime, said the man was being held under police guard.
"It was quite scary," he said.
'We're here for you'
"Generally, this is a quiet area but we have plenty of people doing the Otley Run and going to the pub. It can get busy sometimes."
She said: "The suspect injured themselves and is now in hospital under police guard so the threat has been eliminated."
Two weapons were recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm, police say
Lowe reassured the public and said there would be an increased police presence across Headingley in "the coming days and weeks".
Headingley councillor Abdul Hannan said his thoughts were with the victims and said the council was working closely with the police and reassuring the community.
"This is a very, very rare incident and the police know that the public are very frightened, so there is a much bigger police presence.
"It's horrific," he said.
"I would be scared if I had witnessed or been close to an incident of that magnitude.
"There is a lot of footfall in that area, it is a busy stretch, especially on a Saturday.
"All I can say to those women and girls is that we're here for you. We're increasing those patrols."
"It is a tragedy what has taken place."
MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, Alex Sobel, said the incident raised concerns about the safety of the Otley Run.
The Church of England has also issued a response to the attack, thanking emergency services and people who stayed at the scene to support victims.
He said: "We need to look at the numbers and see what we can do to ensure safety on the Otley Run.
The Right Reverend Arun Arora, the Bishop of Kirkstall, who oversees the City of Leeds for the Church of England, said: "There is an understandable sense of shock and numbness for people hearing news of Saturday's events.
"This is really serious and shocking and nobody foresaw that anything like this would happen, but we have had other issues, just because of the huge volume of people who come every Saturday and the growth in it.
"Prayers were offered in church services this morning close to where the attack occurred and space was made in chapels for silent prayer following the services.
"Because of this we're going to have to look really deeply at how Otley Run operates."
"We will continue to pray for those who were injured in the attack and those who witnessed it."
Cordons remain in place in the Headingley area of Leeds while inquiries continue
Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley said on Saturday there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the attack and they "were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident".
A Counter Terrorism Policing North East spokesperson added extensive inquiries were continuing to establish "the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation".
West Yorkshire's Assistant Chief Constable Carl Galvin also said on Saturday: "Clearly this has been a shocking incident and we fully realise the concern it has caused.
"Due to the enquiry being active we are limited in what we can say, but I do want to reassure residents that everything possible is being done to investigate and understand what took place."
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Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
