Met called in to hunt for gunman

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Metropolitan Police detectives have joined the hunt for a man who threatened a police officer with a gun near two schools in Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police pursued a black VW Golf from Oxford to Didcot when the driver got out in Kynaston Road and pointed the gun at an officer.

He ran into Didcot Cemetery and the area, including two schools, was sealed off on Friday. No shots were fired.

Officers are now liaising with other forces including the Met.

The abandoned VW Golf is now undergoing a thorough forensic search following the incident at 1255 GMT on Friday.

We do not think he poses an immediate danger to the public Det Sgt Alan Clements Thames Valley Police

Pupils at St Birinus School and Willowbank Primary School, who were told to stay inside when the cordon was put in place, were later allowed to go home.

Officers spent an hour searching the cemetery with a police helicopter and dogs, but the suspect was not found.

Det Sgt Alan Clements of South Oxfordshire CID said on Saturday: "We are following several lines of inquiry in Oxfordshire and London as we track down this man, who may possibly have left the Didcot/Oxford area.

"We do not think he poses an immediate danger to the public, but anyone who carries a firearm must be considered a serious threat and we are determined to find him.

"I'd also like to reassure the public that we have armed response teams on standby that can react instantly if a further incident does occur."

The suspect has been described as black, 5ft 9in tall, in his late teens or early 20s with short afro-style hair.

He wore jeans, trainers and a black puffy jacket.