Three hurt in Braintree town centre shooting, one arrested and four suspects sought

Three people were hospitalised after a targeted shooting in Braintree's Market Place on Monday night. One person has been arrested; four male suspects fled the scene.

Shooting in Braintree town centre leaves three hospitalised

Three people were injured in a firearms incident in the centre of Braintree late on Monday, the Daily Express reports, with Essex Police confirming all three were taken to hospital in a condition not thought to be life-threatening.

The incident took place at approximately 10.10pm on 31 August at Market Place in the town centre. One person has since been arrested and remains in police custody.

Local residents reported a police helicopter circling overhead alongside a large number of police and ambulance vehicles at the scene.

Detective Inspector Richard Trower said the incident was targeted rather than random. "We believe all those involved in this incident know each other," he said. "This was directed by one specific group of people towards another specific group of people."

Trower added that officers do not consider the shooting to pose an ongoing threat to the wider public.

Four males, described as men or boys aged from their mid-teens to mid-20s, were seen leaving the area after the incident. Work to identify and locate them is continuing.

"There is currently a large and visible police presence in the town centre and we expect to remain there into the morning as we carry out enquiries," Trower said.

Essex Police have appealed for witnesses and are asking anyone with CCTV footage, dash cam recordings or other relevant material to come forward, quoting incident 1345 of 31 August.

Source: Daily Express