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Man shot dead in post office raid | Man shot dead in post office raid |
(10 minutes later) | |
A man has died after being shot in an armed raid at a family-run post office in a village in north Worcestershire. | A man has died after being shot in an armed raid at a family-run post office in a village in north Worcestershire. |
He was shot in the chest during a raid at Fairfields Store, in Fairfield, near Bromsgrove, and died at about 0900 GMT. | He was shot in the chest during a raid at Fairfields Store, in Fairfield, near Bromsgrove, and died at about 0900 GMT. |
A second man was shot in the leg during the raid carried out by three men armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer. | A second man was shot in the leg during the raid carried out by three men armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer. |
It is believed they escaped in a silver Volkswagen Golf later found abandoned in Bournheath Road. The post office was also raided five years ago. | It is believed they escaped in a silver Volkswagen Golf later found abandoned in Bournheath Road. The post office was also raided five years ago. |
Fairfield First School, which is opposite the store was shut following the shooting. | Fairfield First School, which is opposite the store was shut following the shooting. |
Head teacher Helen Hedar said several pupils had arrived at school at the time of the raid at about 0820 GMT, but no-one had seen anything as the school was set back from the road and did not overlook the shop. | Head teacher Helen Hedar said several pupils had arrived at school at the time of the raid at about 0820 GMT, but no-one had seen anything as the school was set back from the road and did not overlook the shop. |
A Post Office spokesman said: "We are shocked and appalled at this terrible attack against hard-working people serving the whole community and we are very concerned for the family and will be doing all we can to help them." They are a lovely family, just lovely people really David Green, villager | |
Builder David Green, 59, who regularly buys his paper from the store said it was run by a Welsh family who had moved to the area several years ago. | Builder David Green, 59, who regularly buys his paper from the store said it was run by a Welsh family who had moved to the area several years ago. |
He said the mother and father, believed to be in their 50s, and their son and daughter, in their 20s, were a "lovely family". | He said the mother and father, believed to be in their 50s, and their son and daughter, in their 20s, were a "lovely family". |
He added: "Everybody knows everybody here. . We always have a little chat." | He added: "Everybody knows everybody here. . We always have a little chat." |
Gordon Witcomb, chairman of a neighbouring parish council, said he was shocked but not surprised to hear of the robbery. | Gordon Witcomb, chairman of a neighbouring parish council, said he was shocked but not surprised to hear of the robbery. |
He said: "It is funny because around here there are a lot of little shops and there seems to be a programme of them being attacked by armed robbers." | He said: "It is funny because around here there are a lot of little shops and there seems to be a programme of them being attacked by armed robbers." |
He said a convenience store in nearby Lickey End was held up for cigarettes and cash by armed robbers in November. | He said a convenience store in nearby Lickey End was held up for cigarettes and cash by armed robbers in November. |
West Mercia Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the raid. | West Mercia Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time of the raid. |
Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said: "Significant resources have been committed to this inquiry, which is in its very early stages. | Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said: "Significant resources have been committed to this inquiry, which is in its very early stages. |
"The offenders are dangerous and must not be approached." | "The offenders are dangerous and must not be approached." |
Residents first learned of the shooting when they saw a police police helicopter circling the area. One Stourbridge Road resident said: "I thought something happened on the motorway." | Residents first learned of the shooting when they saw a police police helicopter circling the area. One Stourbridge Road resident said: "I thought something happened on the motorway." |