A man has died in a “police shooting” near the M5 motorway in the Bristol area.
The incident happened on the Portbury Hundred (A369) near the M5 junction 19 for Portishead at around 09:30 BST.
The road remains closed in both directions.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the fatality and has referred the shooting to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
A spokesman said: “We can confirm a man died earlier this morning in an incident involving police firearms on The Portbury Hundred (A369) in Portishead.
“We have referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
“This has been a fast moving incident and is now under investigation by the IPCC.”
David Ellison told BBC Radio Bristol he saw officers fire between six and 10 shots through the passenger window using handguns.
“They surrounded it. They shot maybe five, six or ten times,” he said.
“Then they dragged a man from the car to resuscitate him.
“It came off the roundabout towards Portishead and then was boxed in by cars.”
The BBC’s Jon Kay, who is at the scene, said there was a red car with smashed windows visible behind the police cordon.
An air ambulance is at the scene along with Great Western Ambulance’s critical care team.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: “Motorists will not be able to access Portishead from Junction 19 of the M5.
“We anticipate the road will remain closed for some time.”
The Portbury hundred links the M5 motorway to the town of Portishead, to the south of Bristol.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Be the first to comment