CHILDREN desperately scaled fences to try and escape a school after a suspected gunman roaming nearby saw it plunged into lockdown.
Terrified school pupils were left “hysterical and sobbing” after being locked down inside and unable to call their parents, it was said.
Sign up for newsletter
Thank you!
Police received a report of a man seen with a suspected firearm in Firth Road, Bognor, with a nearby school locked downCredit: Refer to source
Wider search activity, including armed officers, is ongoingCredit: Refer to source
Due to the close proximity of nearby schools, police advised them to implement temporary lockdown proceduresCredit: Refer to source
Armed police from Sussex Police swooped on coastal town Bognor Regis, in West Sussex, today after reports that a man was seen with a gun.
Schools were dramatically placed into lockdown and police cars and dogs have been searching the area.
However, the man has not yet been detained as the police hunt continues.
Parents frantically rushed to The Regis School following advice to collect their children amid the chaos.
COME HOME
Desperate mum issues heartbreaking plea to find missing daughter, 14
RIOT CHAOS
Yobs hurl fireworks and bricks at cops as chaos erupts outside migrant hotel
The main school affected is The Regis School – a secondary 11-18 academy with close to 1,600 pupils, which is next door to the Arena Sports Centre.
Children from nearby schools were stuck inside the sports centre while the carnage unfolded.
A mum, who has two children in the school, said: “The whole school has just been placed in full lockdown.
“I have gone down to collect my children and they are just hysterical. I have never witnessed anything like that.
“There are children in the leisure centre next door who were stuck in there for two or three hours.
“There are children climbing over fences to get out.”
She continued: “Kids are trying to call their parents and then being told off for using their phones. It has just been so poorly managed.
“There are dogs and probably five police cars in the car park. It is just carnage.
“Parents are now turning up to pick up their children. My daughter was just hysterical and sobbing.”
A grandfather to children in the school, said: “The police won’t say anything to anybody.
“My daughter has gone down to get the kids out the school.”
A school receptionist said: “The police have informed us of an incident which took place in the local community and due to that we put the school into a partial lockdown.
“That incident has finished and we are no longer in a lockdown.
“Lots of parents are here to collect their children and we have given them that choice.
“Lots of the children are hyped up by what is happening. They were locked up between 11:30am and around 1-1:15pm.”
A Sussex Police spokesman said: “At around 11.10am today (October 22), police received a report of a man seen with a suspected firearm in Firth Road, Bognor.
“Due to the close proximity of nearby schools, police advised them to implement temporary lockdown procedures while searches of the area were carried out.
“All schools have since reopened.
PRICEY SECRETS
Katie Price reveals she snogged EMINEM and two more A-list Hollywood stars
HORROR STORY
I nearly died after the Yorkshire Ripper attacked me with a screwdriver
“Wider search activity, including armed officers, is ongoing, and a visible police presence continues in the area.
“Anyone with information or footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact police online or by calling 101, quoting reference 450 of 22/10. In an emergency, always dial 999.”
Children have been spotted desperately climbing fences amid ‘carnage’ at a secondary schoolCredit: Google
