Broomhall shooting: scared residents describe “ugly’ atmosphere on the estate

One resident described how the incident - in which a 38-year-old man was shot and stabbed in the leg - had “made me realise how close this was to my home”.

The householder - who did not want to be named - said he had lived on Exeter Drive for five years and it was “generally quiet”.

However the atmosphere around the large apartment buildings had grown “ugly” during the summer when suspected drug dealers moved in.

A huge police cordon was put in place on Saturday morning as forensics officers combed a central green area around which the buildings sit.

Officers spent hours trying to piece together the circumstances around the frightening incident.

Police were scrambled to the estate after gunshots were heard at around 4am and a man was said to be injured.

They say paramedics rushed to help a 38-year-old man - who was taken to hospital with injuries to his leg “consistent with firearms discharge and a stabbing”.

The shaken tenant described struggling to sleep when at between 4am-5am he heard a loud “crack” which he at first thought must have been fireworks left over from bonfire night.

He said: “My bedroom’s the other side of the building from where this happened - so it was loud.

“The next morning police knocked on my door and said there had been a shooting last night.

“It’s generally really quiet around here but during lockdown we had some people move in who were dealing drugs and that caused some problems.”

Another neighbour said tenants in a nearby flat had been evicted last week and he added: “I think what happened last night might be a part of that.”

He said: “It’s too much around the estate at the moment - I sometimes babysit for my daughter and come back in the early hours of the morning.

“But you worry because you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Police have yet to arrest anyone over the incident and the victim remains in hospital in a serious condition.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.