Watch: ‘Army truck rampage’ driver arrested for attempted murder of police
A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a large Army truck smashed through a police roadblock near a Royal Marines base in Somerset.
The truck, with a 41-year-old man at the wheel, smashed into a parked car and roadside signpost.
The man then drove the lorry to the A361 M5 overbridge six miles away where he dumped the vehicle and climbed over the railings, leading the packed motorway to be closed in both directions.
He was arrested 25 minutes later and is in custody, said Avon and Somerset Police.
Nobody was hurt in the incident.
SOMERSET. ENGLAND.TAUNTON.A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of police officers after he commandeered an unspecified military truck and drove it through a roadblock and headlong into two police cars occupied by officers, Somerset Police said. pic.twitter.com/gUGAeiPVsJ[1]
— Petronilla Husbands (@PetronillaHusb1) September 11, 2023[2]
Police said officers were sent to an address in Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, at around 4.40pm on Sunday following a report that a man was making threats to a person living there and had caused damage to the property.
When officers arrived, the man left the address at the wheel of a large military truck.
Police said he rammed it into two police cars blocking the road, causing them extensive damage.
“Thankfully, no police officers or members of the public were hurt in the incident,” a police spokesman said.
One local resident said: “It was an Army truck on the rampage.
“My thoughts are going out to those in Taunton.”
“The man subsequently drove to the A361 M5 overbridge. The motorway was closed in both directions” a force spokesman said.
“He was arrested 25 minutes later and he currently remains in police custody.”
Extensive damage to the vehicles
Police said that, in total, nine vehicles were damaged, including four police vehicles.
After driving through the roadblock, which caused extensive damage to the police cars, the truck hit a parked car and a signpost.
The National Police Air Service said it deployed its Exeter helicopter to assist Avon and Somerset Police.
The man was arrested 25 minutes later on suspicion of the attempted murder of police officers and multiple counts of suspicion of criminal damage, Avon and Somerset Police[3] said.
An area in Norton Fitzwarren has been cordoned off and forensic teams remain at the scene.
References
- ^ pic.twitter.com/gUGAeiPVsJ (t.co)
- ^ September 11, 2023 (twitter.com)
- ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.telegraph.co.uk)