Investigations continue into an incident involving a suspected 'cloned' white van with potential 'weapons on board' which promoted an armed police chase and shots fired by the side of the A38 Kingsbury Road in Erdington, next to Castle Vale

Man involved in Birmingham police firearms incident still at large  

by · Birmingham Live

The driver of a suspected ‘cloned’ van pursued by police along a busy Birmingham road before he fled after a firearms incident remains at large more than 24 hours on. Police officers on patrol were alerted to the white van, believed to be a Transit, on Saturday (December 14) morning.

The vehicle was flagged as potentially having ‘weapons on board’ with armed officers joining the chase. That ended by the side of the A38 Kingsbury Road in Erdington, at the Wash and Go car wash opposite the Castle Vale estate between 10.30am and 11am.

An eyewitness from the car wash site, who asked not to be named, said a man aged 25 to 30 abandoned his van and ran across the A38 towards the Castle Vale estate. West Midlands Police cordoned off an area by a bus stop on the A38, which was by footpaths which led to Mantby Road in Castle Vale, opposite the junction with Innsworth Drive.

Read more: Police officer attacked following city Gaza demonstration

Police confirmed one of its officers ‘discharged a firearm’. Witnesses reported hearing ‘two loud bangs’, with one diving to the floor in fear.

While no one was hurt, a police dog did sustain injuries which required treatment by vets. The full police statement said: “Officers on patrol in Birmingham this morning (14 Dec) spotted a van being driven on cloned plates.

“Information we had on the van showed that weapons may be on board. Firearms officers were deployed and followed the van along Kingsbury Road. Investigations into the van are ongoing.

“During the incident a police firearm was discharged but nobody was hurt. A police dog was injured during the incident and has been taken to the vets to be treated. Enquiries are continuing and anyone with information is asked to get in touch via Live Chat or 101 quoting log 1259 of 14 December.”

More than a day after the incident unfolded police have confirmed the driver of the van has not been arrested and investigations continue. A spokeswoman for the force on Sunday (December 15) said: “No arrests have been made, enquiries are ongoing.”