POLICE have thanked a teacher and college staff member for their "quick thinking" and "heroics" after they tackled and detained a suspected gunman.
A heroic teacher and member of support staff at Crawley College have been praised by the force as they "put themselves in harm's way to protect their students" yesterday, with shots reported to have been fired inside the building.
Officers were called to the college at 3.10pm and officers arrested an 18-year-old who had been “rugby-tackled” by a teacher, according to eye-witnesses.
Police confirmed a blank firing handgun and a knife were seized and the suspect remains in custody.
Officers also conducted a search at an address in Barton Walk, Crawley, in connection with the incident.
Chief Inspector Shane Baker, of the Crawley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I’d personally like to thank everyone who helped to quickly bring this incident to a safe conclusion, especially the two members of college staff whose heroics have not gone unnoticed.
"They put themselves in harm’s way in order to protect their students, fellow employees and the wider public, and I am hugely grateful for their quick thinking actions.
“During this, they sustained minor injuries – not gunshot wounds – and presented themselves to a walk-in medical centre. Thankfully, no other injuries were reported, and no damage was caused by the blank shots fired.
“We are treating this as an isolated incident which was not terror-related, and while we are not seeking anyone else in connection with it, we will continue to provide a high visibility police presence in the area for community reassurance.
“We are also working with the college and the local authority to manage the welfare and wellbeing of those involved – including students – who will have been understandably shocked by this experience.
“Our enquiries are ongoing into this criminal investigation, and anyone with any information is urged to report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Reset.”
Crawley College is assisting Sussex Police with the investigation and has confirmed the college will be closed until at least Thursday.
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