‘White van man’ at large after Birmingham A38 armed police pursuit ends in gunfire

The driver of a suspected ‘cloned’ vehicle being pursued by police on a main Birmingham road which led to shots being fire is still at large the force has confirmed. West Midlands Police officers on patrol spotted a van, described as a ‘white Transit’ by a witness, on ‘cloned plates’ on Saturday (December 14) morning.

Police said the vehicle was flagged as possibly having ‘weapons on board’ and armed police joined the pursuit. The van driver has then left his vehicle at a car wash site by the A38 Kingsbury Road in Erdington and then ran across the road towards Castle Vale.

He was then pursued by police with ‘two gunshots fired’. Police confirmed it was their officers that ‘discharged a firearm’ and while no one was injured, a police dog was hurt.

Read more: A38 incident live armed police pursuit of van ends in gun fired

A worker at the car sales site and adjoining Wash & Go Truck and car wash on the opposite side of the road said: “A white Transit van pulled on to our site and was being pursued by police including armed officers .

“The drone was up. There were at least 10 police vehicles and lots of armed police. The man, who was white, was being chased was 25 to 30. I then heard two gunshots. I don't know if they got him. I've never seen anything like this.”

Householders on Castle Vale reported hearing ‘two loud bangs’, with one diving on to the floor of his living room in fear. But it appears the man being chased has got away. West Midlands Police confirmed no arrests have been made in connection with the incident and ‘enquiries are ongoing’.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: “Officers on patrol in Birmingham this morning (December 14) 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.”

A police cordon remained in place on Saturday afternoon, after a search team had scoured the area to hunt for clues, with a forensics officer then carrying out investigations.