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Three held over M40 biker death | Three held over M40 biker death |
(29 minutes later) | |
Three men have been arrested over the murder of a biker who was shot dead on the M40 in Warwickshire. | Three men have been arrested over the murder of a biker who was shot dead on the M40 in Warwickshire. |
Gerry Tobin, a Canadian who lived in south-east London, died on 12 August. | Gerry Tobin, a Canadian who lived in south-east London, died on 12 August. |
The 35-year-old Hells Angel was riding home from the Bulldog Bash biker festival at Long Marston Airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, when he was shot. | The 35-year-old Hells Angel was riding home from the Bulldog Bash biker festival at Long Marston Airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, when he was shot. |
The men were arrested in raids by armed officers on two addresses in Coventry and one in Nuneaton. A number of weapons were recovered by police. | |
Weapons found | |
The men have been taken to a police station in Warwickshire where they will be questioned later. | The men have been taken to a police station in Warwickshire where they will be questioned later. |
Officers are also forensically testing three vehicles. Two of them, a van and a Rover car, were recovered from the raided addresses. | |
The third, a fire-damaged Rover car, was recovered before the arrests but police have not said where it was found. | |
Detectives said a number of bladed weapons and a firearm were recovered from the three addresses. | |
Assistant Chief Constable Bill Holland said it was possible that further addresses would be searched during the day, adding that it was an active and ongoing inquiry. | Assistant Chief Constable Bill Holland said it was possible that further addresses would be searched during the day, adding that it was an active and ongoing inquiry. |
Gerry Tobin was travelling back from the Bulldog Bash festival | Gerry Tobin was travelling back from the Bulldog Bash festival |
Two of the raids were carried out in the Wykencroft and Earlsdon areas of Coventry. | Two of the raids were carried out in the Wykencroft and Earlsdon areas of Coventry. |
It was part of a joint operation involving the Warwickshire force, West Midlands Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency. | It was part of a joint operation involving the Warwickshire force, West Midlands Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency. |
Police believe the shot that killed Mr Tobin, who had lived in the UK for 10 years, was fired from a dark green Rover 620 car seen passing him at the time of the incident. | Police believe the shot that killed Mr Tobin, who had lived in the UK for 10 years, was fired from a dark green Rover 620 car seen passing him at the time of the incident. |
ACC Holland said the public response had been "outstanding" but called on anyone who saw a similar car between 1400 BST and 1500 BST on 12 August to contact police. | ACC Holland said the public response had been "outstanding" but called on anyone who saw a similar car between 1400 BST and 1500 BST on 12 August to contact police. |
Detectives have been working on the basis that Mr Tobin was deliberately targeted. | Detectives have been working on the basis that Mr Tobin was deliberately targeted. |
Two shots are believed to have been fired, with one of the shots killing Mr Tobin and the other hitting his bike, as he travelled south between junctions 13 and 12, police have said. | Two shots are believed to have been fired, with one of the shots killing Mr Tobin and the other hitting his bike, as he travelled south between junctions 13 and 12, police have said. |
'Perfect light' | 'Perfect light' |
Det Supt Ken Lawrence, who is heading the investigation, has said he is "content" that the shots were fired from a dark green Rover 620 which was seen passing Mr Tobin at the time of the murder. | Det Supt Ken Lawrence, who is heading the investigation, has said he is "content" that the shots were fired from a dark green Rover 620 which was seen passing Mr Tobin at the time of the murder. |
Motorists reported seeing the car driving off at great speed immediately after the attack. | Motorists reported seeing the car driving off at great speed immediately after the attack. |
Detectives are working on the basis that Mr Tobin was targeted | |
Police recently released CCTV footage showing Mr Tobin at a petrol station filling up his motorbike before heading on to the A46 and then the motorway. | Police recently released CCTV footage showing Mr Tobin at a petrol station filling up his motorbike before heading on to the A46 and then the motorway. |
He worked as a mechanic at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Mottingham and lived nearby with his girlfriend, Rebecca Smith, 25. | He worked as a mechanic at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Mottingham and lived nearby with his girlfriend, Rebecca Smith, 25. |