Air gun found at double stabbing where man shot

An air gun was recovered from the scene of a double stabbing on Merseyside where a man was shot by armed officers, the police watchdog has said.

A 33-year-old man, who has since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, was shot by police in Huyton, Knowsley, on Wednesday.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said its initial review had found one officer fired a single shot and there was no evidence of a criminal offence.

The suspect, from Huyton, remains in a stable condition in hospital where he is being treated for an abdomen wound.

A man in his 20s and a woman in her 50s were found stabbed in the garden of a house in Tobruk Road, Huyton, at about 16:25 BST.

The woman remains in a stable condition after being stabbed in the back, arms and face and the man has been discharged from hospital.

The shot man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on Friday.

The IOPC said it had attended a forensic examination of the scene where the suspect was shot and a CO2-powered air pistol had been recovered.

Amanda Rowe, IOPC director, said: "This was a disturbing incident in broad daylight in a residential area and it is appropriate that we examine police actions in responding to the events.

"We send our sympathies to those who were injured and everyone affected by what happened," she said.

"We will keep all relevant parties updated as our enquiries progress."

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