Man arrested after car stopped on Walton Lane, Liverpool

We can confirm officers are currently on Walton Lane in Liverpool as part of a pre-planned vehicle stop.

At just before 1pm today, Tuesday 21 May, a private hire taxi was safely stopped by armed police officers on the city-bound carriageway.

A 26 year-old man has been arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

A firearm, believed to be a self-loading pistol, has been recovered and will be forensically examined.

A section of Walton Lane is currently closed in both directions to allow for investigative work to be carried out and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

Detective Inspector John Mullen said: “A tactical and safe stop of the vehicle was carried out on Walton Lane by trained armed police officers who shot out the tyres in a controlled manner.

“One man inside the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.

“We are in the very early stages of our enquiries but removing firearms from the streets of Merseyside and keeping people safe remains a priority for the force.

“I would like to thank the public for their patience while this matter is being dealt with.”