M5 shooting victim ‘was armed and had threatened other driver’

A man shot by armed police near Portishead had a handgun and had threatened another motorist, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Avon and Somerset Constabulary officers fatally shot the man on Wednesday (September 27) after responding to reports of someone travelling on the M5 with a firearm. The IPCC confirmed that what appears to be a non-police issue firearm was found at the scene. Investigators are attending post incident procedures and are checking for relevant CCTV and body-worn video footage. The Portbury Hundred (A369) road remains closed to allow a thorough examination to take place. IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: “The investigation is in its very early stages and we will be working hard to establish exactly what happened and would ask for patience while our investigation continues. “At this stage we are currently investigating the circumstances of the incident and no individual police officer is under investigation.”