Bristol shooting leaves schools in lockdown as worried parents wait at gates | Bristol Live
Need to know
Several schools have triggered lockdown procedure as a precaution
Abigail Neep South West Regional News Reporter
17:15, 01 Apr 2026
Cars parked up outside Bristol Brunel Academy more than an hour after usual pick-up time(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach Plc)
Parents anxiously wait outside schools in east Bristol after man shot nearby:
At least four schools in east Bristol are currently in precautionary lockdown after a masked gunman fled the scene of a shooting in Speedwell this afternoon (Wednesday, April 1).Parents have been seen waiting outside Bristol Brunel Academy hoping to soon pick up their children, as one of several schools that remain in lockdown almost two hours after usual pick-up time.Bristol Brunel Academy, Two Mile Hill Primary School and Chester Park Infant and Junior School are all locked down.In a message sent to parents, seen by BristolLive, Bristol Brunel Academy wrote: “Due to an incident in the local community, we have gone into a precautionary lockdown. We will update you as soon as possible. Kind regards, BBA”.In a later message, the school said: “We are still in a precautionary lockdown following police advice. Please do not worry, this is a precaution only and we are waiting to hear further instructions. All staff and students are safe. We have been advised by police to remain in lockdown due to the incident in the local community. Staff and students remain in the Academy and we will await further updates from police.”Two Mile Hill Primary School have sent a message to parents saying they are keeping the students safe during the ‘serious incident’ in the local area. Its earlier message to parents read: “Due to a serious incident in the local area, Two Mile Hill Primary has been placed into lockdown as a precaution. During this time, no one will be able to enter or leave the school site. We understand that this is very close to the end of the school day and may cause inconvenience; however, the safety and security of our pupils and wider community is our highest priority. We will provide further updates as soon as we are able.”Chester Park Infant and Junior School has encouraged parents not to block the phone lines. A message seen by BristolLive said: “As a safety precaution we will be putting the Infant & Junior Schools into lockdown until we receive further information. At present no one will be leaving or being allowed to enter both schools. We will update you as soon as possible. Please bear with us and avoid blocking the phone lines for the time being. Thank you.”Photos seen by BristolLive show several police cars within the cordoned area on Speedwell Road, with several areas in the vicinity taped off by officers.Damien Egan, Labour MP for Bristol North East, said: “I am concerned to learn that a serious incident has taken place this afternoon where a man has been taken to hospital with a potentially life-changing injury after a gun was fired in the Speedwell area of Bristol. This has led to schools in our constituency going into precautionary lockdown while the police continue with their investigations. Affected schools are directly in touch with parents and the latest information about the incident can be found in a statement that Avon and Somerset Police have published on their website.”Reports of a serious incident began to emerge after an air ambulance landed in Barton Fields near Speedwell shortly before 2.30pm, later landing at Southmead hospital. Police have since confirmed that a man in his 20s was shot at and is in hospital with a potentially life-changing injury in the Speedwell area.A manhunt is underway to identify the shooter, who was wearing a balaclava and is believed to have left in the direction of Soundwell on a black-and-grey electric bike.More updates can be found in our live blog here. Want to see more from BristolLive? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add BristolLive as a preferred source, simply click here. Or read more about selecting your preferred sources.Follow bristolpost:
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