Crossbow and firearm recovered from city’s Otley Run pub crawl route where two women were seriously injured Facebook posts appearing to contain plans for a “massacre” are being examined by counter-terrorism police investigating an attack in which two women were seriously injured in Leeds. A man, 38, who suffered a “self-inflicted injury” was arrested and two weapons – a crossbow and a firearm – were recovered from the scene, on the popular Otley Run pub crawl route in the north of the city. He was described on Sunday as a “key suspect” by police who said he remained in hospital in a critical condition. One of the two women – who are aged 19 and 31 – has been discharged from hospital, but the other underwent surgery after suffering life-threatening injuries and is in a stable condition. Police also said they were aware of video being circulated on social media, a reference to footage which appeared to have been taken from a passing car and shows a black-clad man carrying an implement and with a carry case slung over his shoulder. The head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, said officers were working at pace to establish the full facts and circumstances of Saturday’s incident, but added: “We are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this matter, which has caused understandable concern. We believe it was an isolated incident.” Alex Sobel, the Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, said he had spoken to the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, on Sunday afternoon and would remain in touch with her as well as the security minister, Dan Jarvis, regarding aspects of the incident. “I want to thank local people and the blue light services in how they responded to this and the fact that the area has now been cleared and is no longer a live crime scene,” he said. “The broader implications of an attack in which lethal weapons were found in a very busy area where the country’s most populous pub crawl takes place is a real concern,” he added. Sobel said he would be raising the issue of the availability of weapons linked to the incident, and how to keep people safe when they are standing in large groups and queueing. Counter-terror police are examining a number of Facebook posts – including one which appeared to include plans for a “mass-murder” attack – to determine if they are linked to the attacker or the incident. The post appeared before the attack on a Facebook account that indicated far-right sympathies as well as reflecting the “mixed ideology” that has increasingly been on the radar of counter-terrorism police. The posts listed as “targets” students, nightclub goers and “neurotypicals”. Reference was made to a “manifesto” written by a man who killed 51 people during shootings at a mosque and Islamic centre in New Zealand in 2019. Facebook’s parent company, Meta, told the Guardian that it had taken action to remove an account apparently associated with the incident. The home secretary received further updates on Sunday from counter-terrorism police after she was first briefed in the wake of the attack. The incident caused shock across the community in the Headingley area of Leeds over the weekend, where large numbers of students and others routinely take part in the pub crawl route, days before the summer term starts for many university courses. One venue, Taylor’s Sports Bar and Grill, remained closed all weekend due to the police investigation but posted on Facebook that it intended to reopen on Monday, “While appalling to witness some of the scenes first-hand, lowlife scum like this will never win in our society,” the statement added. A member of staff at another bar said they had seen dozens of emergency service vehicles descend on the area on Saturday afternoon after the attack, although it took hours for people to become fully aware of what had happened. “We were told and were on high alert, but otherwise you wouldn’t have known. It wasn’t until the evening that people started asking about it,” they said. “I think people have been really shaken by it.” A fortnight ago, the Guardian revealed that counter-terrorism police and the National Crime Agency had set up a new joint taskforce to tackle young males fixated with violence online which is often also fuelled by “strongly misogynistic” online material. The 38-year-old was arrested and taken to hospital with a self-inflicted injury following the incident in Headingley, Leeds Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) North East confirmed he is the main suspect and they do not believe anyone else was involved Officers from West Yorkshire Police were called to Otley Road, in Headingley at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a serious incident involving a man seen with weapons One of the women has now been discharged from hospital The other has undergone surgery after suffering life-threatening injuries A crossbow and a firearm were recovered from the scene Cordons that were in place in Headingley at Leeds Beckett University campus were lifted on Sunday evening Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley said: "The investigation continues and officers are working at pace to establish the full facts and circumstances of Saturday's incident "We are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this matter "We are grateful for the support and understanding of the local community as we progress the investigation "Counter Terrorism Policing North East continue to work closely with our colleagues at West Yorkshire Police to reassure all those affected and keep them informed." added: "We continue to work closely with our colleagues at Counter Terrorism Policing North East as the investigation into yesterday's very serious incident on Otley Road continues "A number of police scenes remained in place throughout today and uniformed officers remain highly visible in communities to reassure residents partners and business owners in the affected area "We are aware of the disruption the very necessary police enquiries at our scenes has caused and want to thank residents for their understanding." He urged people not to speculate online or share information or footage which could affect the active investigation Headingley is an area heavily populated by students Otley Road has several of pubs which make up a popular pub crawl known as the "Otley Run" Students at Leeds Beckett University affected by the attack are to be offered counselling. The Home Secretary and West Yorkshire MP Yvette Cooper said her thoughts were with the victims of the incident adding she was was being updated on the situation In a statement she said : "I am being kept updated on the serious violent incident in Leeds "Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know believed to have shot two women in Headingley before turning weapon on himself The suspect in the Leeds crossbow attack wrote a Facebook manifesto espousing plans for “terrorism revenge and misogynistic rage” that referenced the 2019 massacre in New Zealand Owen Lawrence is suspected to have shot the women on Saturday in Headingley before turning a firearm on himself with one sustaining life-threatening injuries also cites “neurotypical” people as targets as well as general categories such as “humanity” and “human race” the author says he has read the manifesto of the far-right mass murderer Brenton Tarrant who carried out the massacre in Christchurch Tarrant killed 51 people in and close to two mosques The Facebook post details the attack type as: “Mass murder Counter-terrorism police have taken the lead in investigating after concluding that the suspect was likely to have written the tract One of his victims has been discharged while the other is in a stable condition said: “We can confirm that the 38-year-old man who was arrested and taken to hospital on Saturday with a self-inflicted injury “This man was the key suspect and we can name him as Owen Lawrence from Headingley We believe he was acting on his own and are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this matter “Counter Terrorism Policing North East will continue to conduct a thorough and extensive investigation to establish the facts and circumstances around the incident A file will be compiled and passed to the coroner.” The Guardian understands Lawrence was unknown to counter-terrorism police or the security services as a suspect beforehand The senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism is still to declare the attempt at a mass casualty attack as a terrorist incident Lawrence lived barely 200 metres off Otley Road and his last address was a flat that has been raided and searched by police said: “The events in Headingley this weekend have deeply alarmed our community not only the planned attack but the disturbing rise in violent misogyny too We continue to hold the two women attacked in our thoughts as they recover and it’s essential we tackle any culture that normalises misogyny and opens the door to extremism.” with police trying to determine how their suspect got hold of it The head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East said: “We understand there are concerns around the incident and questions about how and why this has happened Our teams are committed to carrying out an in-depth investigation to provide answers to those affected.” an account that appears to be linked to Lawrence lists things that he hates In this post and his supposed manifesto posted on Facebook he referenced “the great replacement theory” This is a bogus far-right claim that white populations are being replaced in society Material from the suspect’s electronic devices is being investigated as is his mental health and neurological state said: “My thoughts remain with the victims and wider community following the horrific incident in Headingley at the weekend.” Counter-terrorism’s workload increasingly includes people who have no clear ideology or where the causes driving them to violence are unclear A fortnight ago, the Guardian revealed that counter-terrorism police and the National Crime Agency had set up a joint taskforce to tackle young males fixated with violence online that is often also fuelled by “strongly misogynistic” online material The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The Leeds crossbow attacker published a sickening Facebook post an hour before he went on his "misogyny-fuelled" rampage and shot two women on Otley Road The far right sympathiser said his attack type would be a "spree killing" with "misogynyic (sic) rage" His Facebook posts include various references to hating women His right-wing politics include him saying he likes "flirting with far right ideas while not being far right" mentions the "great replacement theory" which is a white-nationalist idea that other ethnicities are replacing white people In his chilling post on Facebook one hour before his attack if I need to." He said the "attack type" would be a "spree killing said he has "explored far right ideas by reading through Brenton Tarrent's 74 page manifesto titled - The Great Replacement" He then proceeded to list off all the weapons he was going to use baseball bat and two homemade lollipop shanks He shared photos of some of these weapons on a wooden table Armed officers from West Yorkshire Police raced to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday they found two injured women and Lawrence suffering self-inflicted injuries One victim was discharged from hospital over the weekend while the second was said to be in a stable condition on Sunday after undergoing surgery for life-threatening injuries The investigation was then passed to the Counter Terrorism Policing North East Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: "Officers will continue to conduct enquiries and we ask that if anyone has information that may assist We understand there are concerns around the incident Our teams are committed to carrying out an in-depth investigation to provide answers to those affected "We continue to work closely with West Yorkshire Police to support the local community and thank residents for their support and understanding over the weekend and all those affected by this incident." A restaurant worker described the attack as "really scary" The worker told YorkshireLive: "It was really scary Get all the latest and breaking news in Leeds by signing up to our newsletter here. Get all the latest crime and court stories in Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here Whether it's breaking news straight from a crime scene live updates from big court cases happening in our region or police appeals If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The 38-year-old “key suspect” was arrested and taken to hospital due to a self-inflicted injury after the incident in Otley Road, Leeds, on Saturday afternoon. Two women, aged 19 and 31, were injured. One has been discharged from hospital and the other has undergone surgery after suffering life-threatening injuries and is now in a stable condition, Counter Terrorism Policing North East said. West Yorkshire Police said they were called to Otley Road in Leeds at 2.47pm on Saturday afternoon to reports of an ongoing serious incident involving a man seen with weapons. Police found three people with injuries, two of which were women and were taken to hospital. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) North East said it took over the investigation “due to the circumstances surrounding the incident”. Cordons that were in place in Headingley have been lifted, police said on Sunday evening. Head of CTP North East Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: "The investigation continues and officers are working at pace to establish the full facts and circumstances of Saturday’s incident. "We are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this matter, which has caused understandable concern. We believe it was an isolated incident. "We are grateful for the support and understanding of the local community as we progress the investigation." Images from the incident show weapons on the ground, including a crossbow and multiple guns. The incident happened on the Otley Run, a popular pub crawl route in Leeds. Taylor's Sports Bar & Grill, one of the pubs along the road said that it would be closed until further notice. In a post on its Facebook page, the venue said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances we will be closed until further notice. Apologies for any inconvenience caused." Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire said her thoughts are with the victims of the serious incident in Leeds. She said: "I am being fully briefed by West Yorkshire Police as they work with local communities on the ground."As a suspect is in custody, I would ask people to refrain from sharing any speculation across social media." Assistant Chief Constable Carl Galvin of West Yorkshire Police, who commanded the police operation, said: “Clearly this has been a shocking incident and we fully realise the concern it has caused." "We would strongly urge people not to speculate online or share information or footage which could affect the active investigation and continue to work closely with colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing North East. “We are also working with other partner agencies and key community representatives to reassure them and keep them informed.” "If anyone has any information or witnessed the incident, you are urged to call 101 quoting log number 925 of 26 April. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know... Police were called to Otley Road, in Headingley 26 April after reports of an incident involving a man seen with weapons One needed surgery for life-threatening injuries A 38-year-old man was arrested and taken to hospital with a self-inflicted injury Investigators say he is the main suspect and remains in hospital in a critical condition The incident was near to the Leeds Beckett University campus Leeds Beckett University, whose campus is near the location of the incident, praised West Yorkshire Police for the "speed and effectiveness" of its response It added: "We know that such a terrible incident will impact people in different ways and our support services are available for students and colleagues who may have been affected "We will continue to communicate with all our students and colleagues as we return to campus tomorrow." Counter Terrorism Policing North East are leading the investigation People are being urged to not speculate online or share information or footage which could affect the active investigation Works to replace Otley's deteriorating pedestrian footway have begun in earnest This week the council’s specialist contractor Balfour Beatty will set up the site and works compound preparing for ground works for the installation of a temporary footbridge The council are also sharing a new 4D animation video which explains how the works to install the temporary footbridge and the installation of the old footway will take place The video helps explain the construction stages including diversion of Northern Powergrid lines and supporting existing telecom connections across the river The 10-minute video shows the full project starting with the site set up location of the compound and works to prepare the site for the temporary footbridge it can be seen how the temporary bridge will be installed along with how the old walkway will be taken down it explains how the new walkway is attached to the ancient bridge with the removal of the temporary bridge and works site The updated schedule of works is as follows: All dates are dependent on the weather and river conditions and subject to the condition of the Otley Bridge once the existing footway has been removed Mill Lane will be closed for vehicles from Bridge Street to Manor Street for the majority of the works but a short diversion will maintain access to Manor Street and the continuation of Mill Lane Pedestrian and vehicle access to Adlington House will be maintained Otley Bridge will see some traffic management during nights and possibly two weekend closures during major lifting operations Details are still being worked out and residents will be notified well in advance Over the duration of the scheme the council will look to regularly engage and update residents about progress residents and businesses will be able to speak to the project team at the Otley Community Hub on Nelson Street starting 10am – 11am on Tuesday 11 March and 1pm – 3pm on Friday 14 March the team will be present on Tuesdays and Fridays at these times which may be adjusted in response to demand Discussions with Otley Boat Hire are taking place to understand the impacts of them operating this summer The council has offered to work with the Wharfedale Men’s Shed – a local charity to donate to them part of the oak tree trunk They are planning a community project which offers people the opportunity to get involved in potentially crafting park benches for Otley Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy “We are getting on with replacing the old footway on Otley Bridge for pedestrian safety Today we have launched a 4D animation time lapse video explaining each stage of the works We hope this goes someway to help residents understand some of the complexities of the project as we essentially build two new footways in a short period of time to maintain pedestrian access across the river “Vital work like this always involves some disruption and we will continue our best efforts to minimise any of this as much as possible I know that it will still be inconvenient for people and I would like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience so far whilst we do this urgent work “We will also continue to keep residents regularly updated as the works progress and work closely with our contractor over the months ahead with an expected completion of the temporary bridge in spring and access to the new Otley footbridge in the autumn.” More information about the Otley Bridge project, including frequently asked questions and details of all the options explored by the council, can be found at: Have Your Say Today - Otley Bridge - Commonplace. Subject to the weather, the scheme is anticipated to be completed during autumn 2025. Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services. A man suspected of carrying out a crossbow and firearm attack in Leeds on Saturday remains in a critical condition in hospital with a self-inflicted wound The 38-year-old suspect was arrested following the incident on Otley Road which left two women injured Counter Terrorism Policing North East has taken over the investigation into the attack which occurred in the Headingley area shortly before 3pm on Saturday Police were initially called to reports of "an ongoing serious incident involving a man seen with weapons" at 2.47pm.The two injured women were taken to hospital for treatment after the attack in the popular student area Witnesses described seeing a man with a crossbow before emergency services arrived at the scene Restaurant worker Bethany Connelly told Yorkshire Live: "I was at work at a nearby restaurant and some girls were sitting outside They asked if they could come in and finish what they were having because they'd seen someone with a crossbow." Police confirmed the suspect was detained at the scene and later identified as the "key suspect" in the investigation One of the female victims has been discharged from hospital following the attack The other woman underwent surgery after suffering life-threatening injuries and is now recovering in hospital in a stable condition Officers from West Yorkshire Police remain at the scene West Yorkshire Police had initially reported that three people were injured in the incident but later clarified that two women were victims while the third injured person was the suspect himself The 38-year-old man remains under arrest while in hospital with what police described as a self-inflicted wound The incident prompted a major police response in the Headingley area Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East said: "The investigation continues and officers are working at pace to establish the full facts and circumstances of Saturday's incident." We believe it was an isolated incident." The counter-terrorism unit confirmed they are working closely with West Yorkshire Police on the investigation Authorities have urged anyone with information or who witnessed the incident to contact police on 101 Assistant Chief Constable Carl Galvin of West Yorkshire Police said: "We continue to work closely with our colleagues at Counter Terrorism Policing North East as the investigation into yesterday's very serious incident on Otley Road continues." Police cordons that were in place in Headingley have now been lifted Uniformed officers remain highly visible in the area to reassure local residents and businesses Rachel Reeves is the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey "We are aware of the disruption the very necessary police enquiries at our scenes has caused and want to thank residents for their understanding," ACC Galvin added described the news as "shocking" and expressed her thoughts for those affected Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said her thoughts were with the victims of the incident adding she was being updated on the situation James O'Brien is Leading Britain's Conversation The man believed to have carried out a brutal crossbow attack which left two women in hospital sent out a chilling Facebook post on the day of the incident outlining the details of his "spree killing" - and posted pictures of the weapons he would use Owen Lawrence died on Tuesday after he was arrested and taken for treatment with a self-inflicted injury following an attack on the popular Otley Run pub crawl in Headingley on Saturday were taken to hospital for treatment following the incident shocking posts from the 38-year-old's Facebook account have emerged in which he discussed the "information" for a "mass murdering" hours before the "Otely Run Massacre" took place he brazenly said he would target "students night club goers and pub crawlers" in a onslaught which he labelled as "terrorism" "revenge" and "misogynistic rage" he boasted about and photographed the weapons he would use for the assault - which included the crossbow a range of guns with "modified ammo" and an "unbreakable" baseball bat A picture of Lawrence holding this bat whilst smiling had also previously been published onto his Facebook page which has since been removed by the site's parent company Meta He also said he was 'inspired' by Brenton Tarrant who killed 51 people in a gun attack on two mosques in Christchurch New Zealand in 2019 Lawrence said he had "explored right wing ideas" when discussing his "political views" in the post with some small "I" libertarian sympathies." Reactionary politics is a far-right theory that seeks to roll back social advancements Police officers would also be attacked "if I needed to" Lawrence stated the location for his attack was to be 'Otley Road [sic] LS6' and he gave his name as 'Owen 'Oz' Lawrence' adding: 'ethnicity/nationality: white British; religious views: agnostic.' The weapons he listed were a crossbow and a break barrel air gun along with a Sig Sauer Rattler CO2 Gun and a Powerline Daiay 415 steel 'BB' ball bearing gun and a 'blank firer' with modified ammunition Counter Terrorism Policing North East is leading the investigation into the attack and have been approached for a comment The force had previously said they believed Lawrence had been acting on his own and were not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the incident It added that two weapons had been recovered from the scene - crossbow and a firearm the force said officers were continuing to "conduct a thorough and extensive investigation to establish the facts and circumstances around the incident" Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: “Officers will continue to conduct enquiries and we ask that if anyone has information that may assist "We understand there are concerns around the incident See more More Crime News See more More UK News See more More Topics Get the biggest stories and wackiest takes from the Daily Star Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters Three individuals have been injured following an incident involving a man armed with weapons along the Otley Run West Yorkshire Police are currently attending to the "ongoing serious incident" on Otley Road They were alerted at 2.47pm today after reports emerged of a man brandishing multiple weapons armed police officers discovered three people had sustained injuries in the attack A suspect was promptly located and apprehended by the police The victims' injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, reports Leeds Live Several police cordons remain active along the Otley Run Bus passengers recounted how their journey was interrupted being forced to disembark as their bus was rerouted away from the scene The popular Leeds pub crawl route would typically be bustling with patrons enjoying their Saturday afternoon drinks In a brief statement released at 5.20pm today a spokesperson for the force said: "Police were called to Otley Road Leeds at 2,47pm today to reports of an ongoing serious incident involving a man seen with weapons "Officers attended and located three people who had suffered injuries which are at this time not being treated as life threatening "Enquiries are in their initial stages to determine the wider circumstances of what has taken place and further updates will follow A number of police scenes remain in place and ensuring public safety remains our priority." This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated Please refresh the page regularly with the latest news **You can also get email updates on the day’s biggest stories straight to your inbox **by signing up for our newsletters. opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by following Daily Star every time you see our name **Follow Daily Star on Android - **CLICK HERE **Follow Daily Star on Apple - **CLICK HERE **Follow Daily Star on Snapchat - **CLICK HERE You can also sign up for Twitter alerts for breaking news by following @‌starbreaksnews and follow us @‌dailystar for all the latest updates Keep up-to-date with your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day by following us on Facebook at Daily Star Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right The man who attacked young women and partygoers in Otley Road on Saturday was ranting and raving about being an incel a year before his attack before inflicting wounds on himself from which he died yesterday (Tuesday A status posted on February 23 said: "Mgtow till I die now me and the secular world have never clicked" MGTOW stands for "Men Going Their Own Way" and is part of the Incel movement which believes should separate from women Owen said: "I have come to the conclusion that dating apps like Tinder etc The app itself is like a buffer between men and women." Men who subscribe to MGOTW ideas believe life is superior when men and focus on one's individual qualities which is short for involuntarily celibate and argues the majority of men are unattractive to the majority of women misogynistic views that overlook and undermine women Lawrence seemingly ascribed to these ideas, adding in another post that he 'hates gender equality, feminists of all four waves, feminoids and female empowerment'. In a post outlining his attack, published around an hour before his "Otley Run Massacre" he said his motivation was "misogynistic rage" Incels and MGOTW followers are generally considered a part of the "manosphere" a web of male-dominant ideologies and groups that focus on men's rights and alpha male figures These various groups often spout misogynistic views that women are a drain on society and should be subservient to men MGOTW is also a part of the "Red Pill Manosphere" The red pill would reveal the uncomfortable truth of the movie's premise whereas the blue pill would keep Keanu Reeves' character in a state of blissful ignorance people have become aware of the role women play in modern society Lawrence, meanwhile, said he loves the "patriarchy" and shared various anti-women memes and statuses over months prior to his attack on two young women said it is "still establishing the facts" when YorkshireLive asked whether Lawrence's right-wing politics and misogynistic beliefs contributed to his motive for the attack Get all the latest big and breaking Leeds news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here was taken to hospital with a self-inflicted injury after attack on Saturday News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A 38-year-old man suspected of carrying out a crossbow attack in Leeds has died Owen Lawrence, from Headingley was taken to hospital on Saturday with a self-inflicted wound after two women were injured in Otley Road Police believe he was acting alone and say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack West Yorkshire Police said on Monday that one of the victims has been discharged from hospital while the other has undergone surgery for life-threatening injuries Sycamore Gap timeline: How damage to landmark tree allegedly unfolded Sycamore Gap accused ‘revelled in news reports of what they had done’ to tree Two men went on ‘moronic mission’ to fell Sycamore Gap tree Seventh person appears in court over damage to Donald Trump’s golf course The force added that she is now recovering in hospital and is in a stable condition Counter Terrorism Policing North East is continuing to investigate the incident following Lawrence's death His Facebook accounts are being examined as the investigation into what happened continues Posts on two accounts that appear to be linked to Lawrence include images of a gun and makeshift wooden knives as well as a rambling entry setting out an apparent plan to kill people taking part in the Otley Road Run pub crawl He also refers to victims including “neurotypicals and police and says that he has “explored far right ideas” including the conspiracy theory referred to as the great replacement Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: “Officers will continue to conduct inquiries and we ask that if anyone has information that may assist “We understand there are concerns around the incident “We continue to work closely with West Yorkshire Police to support the local community and thank residents for their support and understanding over the weekend VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Leeds City Council is installing temporary traffic signals on Otley Bridge from this Thursday (16 January) reducing it to a single lane to facilitate pedestrians crossing over the River Wharfe The deteriorating pedestrian footway at the side of Otley Bridge is at the end of its serviceable life and will be replaced before the end of next winter Twice weekly safety inspections are taking place and the temporary closure will allow further in-depth inspections to ensure the footway can remain safely open to pedestrians As previously communicated it is the council’s preferred solution to install a temporary footway whilst the replacement works are carried out on the existing footway this will require the felling of two nearby trees which must be carried out before bird nesting season begins at the end of February To date the council has been unable to safely remove the two trees required for the new temporary footway despite several site visits the council will have to pursue the only viable alternative solution which will be to reduce Otley Bridge to single lane traffic with three-way temporary traffic lights for the duration of the works which are expected to last until late Autumn Past repair and maintenance schemes in the area indicate that temporary traffic lights on the bridge over an extended period of time are likely to have a significant impact on the town This includes lengthy vehicle queues and congestion including emergency services journeys potential negative impact on local businesses and pupils travelling to Prince Henry’s Grammar School and local primary schools The temporary traffic lights will be operational from Thursday 16 January and will be in place for a minimum of a week. Mill Lane up to Manor Street will also be closed during this period to reduce the traffic impact on Bridge Street Otley Bridge was previously reduced to a single lane of traffic over the New Year period as the footway had to be temporarily closed to ensure safety of people observing the traditional New Year’s Day swim which was later cancelled by organisers The council is already in regular contact with North Yorkshire Council following the landslip on the A59 at Kex Gill and its closure as issues in this area typically lead to increased traffic in Otley and the surrounding area said: “The existing pedestrian footway continues to deteriorate and we cannot delay essential repair work “Engineers have spent over a year looking at potential options and we have looked into the feasibility of all ideas sent to the council since the public consultations in August of last year there are only two viable options open to us to allow this essential repair work to go ahead; building a temporary footway which unfortunately would mean the loss of two trees or temporary traffic lights on Otley Bridge for around six months “Concerns around access for emergency services the school and for all residents led us to maintain that installing a temporary footway is the safest and least disruptive way to carry out this essential and major engineering work after several site visits to establish safe working areas and practices for the felling of the two trees “If the two trees cannot be removed before the end of February and we will have to resort to reducing Otley Bridge to a single lane of traffic using temporary signals for at least six months “While most of the feedback we have received supports the construction of a temporary footway if we cannot create a safe working environment there due to the strength of feeling and associated actions of protestors which is to install temporary traffic lights on Otley Bridge." the trees would be replaced by a minimum of 13 semi mature trees across the Otley area Should works commence to install the temporary footway in March these would take around 12 weeks and it would be expected to be open in late spring 2025 The existing footway would then be removed from spring 2025 on completion of the temporary footway The replacement permanent footway would be expected to be open in autumn 2025. All dates are dependent on weather and river conditions and subject to the condition of the Otley Bridge once the existing footway has been removed More information about the Otley Bridge project, including frequently asked questions and details of all the options explored by the council, can be found at: Have Your Say Today - Otley Bridge - Commonplace  Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services Armed police officers were spotted entering the Otley Run area earlier today Three people have been reported as injured following an alleged crossbow attack in Headingley West Yorkshire Police officers entered the Headingley area The officers found three victims of the attack who are reportedly injured but not suffering life threatening consequences at this time, according to West Yorkshire Police’s statement to Leeds Live An eyewitness told Leeds Live that some girls asked to enter her workplace “because they’d seen someone with a crossbow” This was reportedly a few minutes before the eyewitness saw police and ambulances “rushing down the roads” Otley Road was closed between Arndale and Woodies pub in Headingley and police cars were found to be blocking off the area Police officers were also spotted taking passengers off buses amid reports of the incident West Yorkshire Police confirmed that a male suspect has now been located and detained “We had to tell everyone at the restaurant what was happening and we had to say ‘can you please stay indoors We are going to lock the doors just in case’ and all of our chefs were told to come in and we stopped service for a bit A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to Otley Road, Leeds at 2:47pm today to reports of an ongoing serious incident involving a man seen with weapons “Officers attended and located three people who had suffered injuries which are at this time not being treated as life threatening “A male suspect was located and detained “Enquiries are in their initial stages to determine the wider circumstances of what has taken place and further updates will follow “A number of police scenes remain in place and ensuring public safety remains our priority.” Win £20 to spend at some of the UK's biggest retailers Elizabeth Tamilore Odunsi was just days away from graduating when she died President of KCL Tennis Club David Nana was named the winner People are forgetting one thing about Hailey We’ve got some tough competitors this year Everything you need to know about the current Downs debate People start work on the seating plan in December? some of them can’t read because where was the tailoring? a man walked into a bar in the Leeds suburb of Headingley and attempted to undertake what he called ‘The Otley Run Massacre’ Two people were hospitalised with non life-threatening injuries the attack was way too close to home; just a few streets away from where I live the Run was a staple of my time as a Leeds student; it’s the closest thing the city has to a pilgrimage The bundles of hyperactive students joshing down the streets in cheap Santa suits and homemade tin foil robot costumes raise a smile every week I’ve spent the days after the attack talking to friends always too far away to feel the full force of the impact and to feel the fear that it could happen to your area and the whole community began asking why anyone would want to attack Headingley and determined to see the attacker face justice but most see his death as the easy option: a final act of cowardice a parting shot at an already wounded community They need reassurance and action to prove that our community is safe Our MP has said local authorities need to “look really deeply at how Otley Run operates.” If it’s stopped the only winner is terrorism; they must find a way to make the run safe while maintaining its raucous fun The aftershocks of the attack will continue to rumble for some time but the response of local community groups and the empathy of local leaders suggest that it’s already well on its way back to normality the beer gardens were fit to burst with locals welcoming in the spring heatwave with a pint Tom Horn is a writer and journalist based in Leeds LBC Opinion provides a platform for diverse opinions on current affairs and matters of public interest The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official LBC position See more Latest Opinion See more Latest News See more Latest News Leeds City Council is proposing to remove the two trees near to Otley Bridge from this Friday (31 January) so work can begin to replace the deteriorating pedestrian footway The council must fell the mature oak tree and tulip tree before bird nesting season begins at the end of February to be able to remove the existing footway and install a temporary footway Up to now the council has been unable to safely remove the two trees despite several site visits If this were to continue beyond the end-of-February deadline the only viable alternative to allow pedestrians to cross the River Wharfe would be to reduce Otley Bridge to single lane traffic with three-way temporary traffic signals for the duration of the works Recently the council installed temporary signals on Otley Bridge to allow further in-depth inspections of the footway and traffic monitoring This led to a significant amount of disruption in the local area and the council has received a large amount of correspondence from key partners including bus operators ward members and residents raising concerns about the potential impacts if this were to continue over a longer period with some short journeys taking as long as 45 minutes and delays for public transport and for students attending the nearby schools Other correspondence also refers to ‘fewer visitors and lost income’ to businesses and ‘major concerns’ about emergency services journeys including to the hospital The notification recognises the impact of the temporary signals and the correspondence received and records the decision to proceed with officers’ recommendations that that the installation of a temporary footbridge which would require the felling of the two trees is the most appropriate solution to ensure pedestrians can continue to cross the river said: “We recognise the strength of feeling around protecting the two trees and admire the passion and dedication of the groups involved the disruption seen since introducing the temporary signals reaffirms our position that the temporary footway is the best solution for the town compared to the only other viable alternative of reducing Otley Bridge to single-lane traffic for around six months This is supported by the vast majority of correspondence I have received in recent weeks with many residents and businesses expressing their concerns about long-term traffic management measures “We intend to fell the two trees from this Friday so that we able to progress the essential work to install the temporary footbridge so pedestrians and vehicles can safely cross the River Wharfe." The replacement permanent footway would be expected to be open in autumn 2025 All dates are dependent on weather and river conditions Leeds City Council is prioritising pedestrian safety and is continuing to monitor the condition of Otley Bridge The essential repairs to the pedestrian footway will either require Otley Bridge to be reduced to single lane traffic to facilitate pedestrian crossing or the installation of a temporary footbridge which will necessitate the felling of two nearby trees the council recognises the strength of feeling and associated action from some community groups against the temporary footbridge option officers have this week taken the decision to pause the felling of the trees No further action will be taken by the council or its contractors in regard to the oak tree or the other trees before Monday 6 January 2025 at the earliest Further information will be circulated to local communities and key stakeholders in the coming week providing more details about the urgently required replacement works to the pedestrian footbridge and the timeline for carrying out these works The repairs to the footway will not be delayed To ensure public safety during the annual swimming event which takes place in the River Wharfe on New Year’s Day the pedestrian footway will be closed for the duration of the event and until 3 January 2025 to allow for further in-depth inspections of the footbridge to take place.  Mill Lane up to Manor Street will also be closed During this closure the traffic on Otley Bridge will be reduced to a single lane with temporary traffic lights to facilitate pedestrian crossing Road users are asked to plan ahead as the lane closure is expected to cause disruption and will add to journey times “We recognise the strength of feeling from certain local community groups against the felling of the trees we have taken the decision to pause the felling of the trees and the essential replacement work to the footbridge will not be delayed regardless of the outcome for the trees “We would also like to thank residents for their patience and understanding during the temporary closure of the footway for the New Year’s Day annual swim event.” At this time it remains the council’s position that the preferred approach is to provide a temporary footbridge This is because of the significant impact that installing of 3-way temporary traffic lights (including a pedestrian crossing) on the bridge over such an extended period of time will have in the town general congestion in the town centre and potential negative impact on local businesses Proceeding with the installation of a temporary footbridge would mean it would be necessary to remove the trees before the bird nesting season The trees will be replaced by a minimum of 13 semi mature trees across Otley Works to install the temporary footbridge will commence in March for around 12 weeks with the temporary bridge expected to be open in spring 2025 Removal of the existing footbridge would begin in spring 2025 The new permanent footbridge would be expected to be open in autumn 2025 and subject to the condition of the Otley Bridge once the existing footbridge has been removed More information about the Otley Bridge project can be found at: Have Your Say Today - Otley Bridge - Commonplace Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. has been named as the key suspect following the incident as police said they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the attack I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Police are investigating a Facebook account that detailed plans to carry out a “massacre” on a Leeds pub crawl, as the man arrested over a crossbow and firearms incident in which two women were injured has died in hospital. Owen Lawrence, 38, who died from self-inflicted injuries, has been named as the key suspect following the incident that unfolded during the Otley Run in Headingley at 2.47pm on Saturday. Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said officers would continue their investigation and asked if anyone had information that could assist them, to pass it onto police. “We understand there are concerns around the incident, and questions about how and why this has happened. Our teams are committed to carrying out an in-depth investigation to provide answers to those affected,” he said, adding they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the attack. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this incident.” Lawrence was arrested and taken to hospital on Saturday, while a crossbow and a firearm were recovered from the scene. A 19 and 31-year-old woman were also injured. Police said on Sunday one of the victims had undergone surgery after suffering life-threatening injuries. She was on Sunday recovering in hospital in stable condition. The second victim was previously discharged from hospital. Counter Terrorism police confirmed a Facebook account posting about an “Otley Run massacre” in which students, run participants, and police would be targeted, was being assessed as part of the investigation. The account said the poster had also explored far-right ideologies, and had read material written by Brenton Tarrant, the man who carried out the March 2019 Christchurch massacre, in which 51 people were murdered. The social media giant has now removed the account and is liaising police over the incident. People were out running in their fancy dress for the pub crawl, which is seen as a rite of passage among students, involving 17 venues. Local media had on the day cited an eyewitness who said that people had asked to hide inside the restaurant she worked at. A woman who works at the Heaney & Mill restaurant told Leeds Live: “I was at work at a nearby restaurant and some girls were sitting outside. They asked if they could come in and finish what they were having because they’d seen someone with a crossbow.” Leeds District Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds said he had boosted the visibility of police on the streets and key community events over the coming days. “We fully appreciate the understandable shock and concern that this incident has caused in the Headingley community, and we are continuing to work closely alongside our partner agencies to support and reassure those living, working or studying in, or visiting the area,” he said. govt and politics"},{"score":0.929543,"label":"/law govt and politics/law enforcement"},{"score":0.89633,"label":"/society/crime"},{"score":0.777578,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/homicide"},{"score":0.753218,"label":"/law