Gunman on the run in Tyneside

[StealthPolarBear]

here

My DH has just called to say that armed police have cordoned off a house on a street at the end of our road. The helicoper has been hovering overhead all morning.

Thankfully it's a fairly long road and school is closed today, so DS and I will be staying put.

Let's hope they get the bastard before anyone else is hurt.

I don't care if the police wound him up or not, he didn't have the right to take someones life and badly injure others. How anyone could defend his actions beggars belief.

where are you wubbly? we can hear helicopters overhead too

Eek. We were considering a trip out today. I suppose we can't hide away all the time, he could be anywhere by now.

We're in Eighton Banks EarthMother. Where are you?

Butterpie, I'm avoiding even going into the garden right now. Ridiculous I know.

ooh not far wubbly, in Washington but we often have lunch at the Waggon Inn

I'm just a few lamposts from the Waggon!

Wow, that close. Small world eh. Their fish n chips are great BTW

Ooh I'll have to give them a try EarthMother, thanks for the recommendation

I'm in Washington- should I leave out my planned bus/metro/bus trip to seven stories do you think?

I've had to relent and let DS play out in the garden. At the same time the helicopter has moved almost directly overhead.

I just can't relax, I feel like I should bring him inside.

Every time a car goes down the road my heart stops.

Just had an email from lo's social worker, apparently their office is closed today (Newcastle) due to the weekends events.

They can't surely have closed all the social services offices down because of the gunman, can they?
I've emailed back to ask her.

Thank goodness for Timmy Time on replay. I've managed to tempt him back in.

That is odd EarthMother. I know that they closed a couple of schools in Newcastle because his kids went there, but I can't imagine how it woud affect social services? Unless they're on his 'hitlist'?

This really is unnerving. I know he's not supposed to be a threat to the public, but tbh, I rather not be anywhere in the vicinity of this lunatic.

Just got her on the phone, you've got it right. The office she works out of is the one involved in the blokes children's case.

Hmm, so he has history of harming children?

I think that, considering we have no concrete plans, it might be wise to avoid public places today. If we had proper plans I would go through with them, but it is only a vague whim.

Right, I'm off the phone now and basically what herbie says is spot on.

The office staff have been told to work from home until further notice because they are on his hit list apparently.

Seems he's even threatened the doctors and nurses who are caring for the woman he shot.

Yes EarthMother. According to the BBC website his letter threatened the hospital if they don't save her. What a twat.

It's gone quiet here, the helicopter seems to have moved on.

All quiet here too, still think I'm staying close to home (in front of laptop) today

The main road coming into mine was closed this morning, I had to take a detour to school. No helicopters so far, but there was one flying around at 3am this morning.

I hope they catch him soon, and I hope it doesn't end in bloodshed.