From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ARMED POLICE MOUNT INNER CITY OP AFTER SHOOTINGS 180607 MAY 00 By Matthew Cooper, PA News Armed police today swooped on an inner city area in response to a series of shooting incidents including one in which a man was murdered and another seriously injured. West Midlands Police said a total of 24 officers, including 12 from the force's firearms unit, had been involved in an operation in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. A force spokesman said Operation Nightjar, which began last night, had been mounted in a bid to trace witnesses or suspects following a spate of gun-related crimes in the area in recent weeks. Officers stopped and searched vehicles at a number of crime scenes in Handsworth, including the area near where 27-year-old father-of-two Corey Wayne Allen was gunned down last weekend outside a sports and social club. West Midlands Police Chief Constable Edward Crew said: "I am determined to deal positively with the recent series of shootings and have said before that the use of armed officers on the streets of the West Midlands will be in proportion to the need. "I have taken the view that the deployment of these armed officers is proportionate to the recent events and have given my authority for their use. "I would urge people who know the names of those involved in these shootings to look deep into their hearts and come forward with information to assist my officers," he said. Supt Simon Cole said members of the public had been questioned by unarmed officers, but would have been aware of armed police nearby. "We were seeking witnesses to the murder and also to the other shootings that have taken place in the Handsworth area," he added. Mr Allen, of Erdington, Birmingham was shot dead outside the Oaklands Sports and Social Club, in Oaklands Road, Handsworth, just before midnight on Saturday. Another man, who is not being named but has been arrested, suffered wounds to his lower body and was in a stable condition in hospital, West Midlands Police said. The weapon has not been found and no motive has been established, police said. -- There are posters up in Handsworth now with a picture of a S&W 686 on them, saying something like: "shop a gun owner" with a number to call. Steve. -------[Cybershooters contacts]-------- Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website & subscription info: www.cybershooters.org
