Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Thetford, Norfolk — Armed UK police officers shot and killed a man believed to be carrying a handgun after a two-vehicle collision in the Norfolk town of Thetford on Sunday evening, law enforcement authorities have confirmed. The incident, which unfolded on London Road near the A11, has prompted both local alarm and an independent investigation by the country’s police watchdog.
Norfolk Constabulary said it was called to reports of a collision at about 8:25 pm on Sunday, 28 December 2025, involving two cars on London Road. Shortly after arriving, officers were alerted that one of the drivers had left the crash scene while holding what was described as a handgun.
Armed response teams deployed to the area and a short time later confronted the man, who was still reportedly in possession of the weapon. Police say the individual was shot by armed officers nearby and, despite the prompt attendance of emergency responders, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The force has confirmed that the A11 remains closed in both directions between Thetford Ranges and Brandon Road roundabouts as part of the ongoing inquiry. Officers emphasised that incidents involving the discharge of police firearms are “incredibly rare” in the UK, where routine policing is largely unarmed. Norfolk Police referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) — the standard practice after any fatal police shooting — and stated it will hand over body-worn video and 999 call recordings to ensure transparency.
Assistant Chief Constable David Buckley acknowledged that the incident would raise concern locally but stressed that armed officers are deployed hundreds of times a year in response to firearms-related incidents and that the force is cooperating fully with the IOPC investigation. Police also said they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the shooting.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation — particularly what the man was doing immediately after the crash and whether the firearm was authentic — are expected to be central questions as the IOPC investigation moves forward. In the UK, any death involving police firearms triggers an independent review to assess whether the officers’ use of force was justified under the law.
The case is the latest in a small number of fatal police shootings in England, underscoring the tension between Britain’s normally unarmed policing model and the rare but serious instances where officers must respond to potential armed threats.
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