Chaos erupted in Bognor Regis this morning after reports of a man spotted carrying a gun near a local school sent shockwaves through the seaside town. Pupils were locked down for hours in a nearby leisure centre, with some left hysterical and sobbing, struggling to contact their worried parents.
Armed Police Storm Area as Schools Go Into Lockdown
Sussex Police rushed to the scene in West Sussex following the alarming report around 11.10am of a man seen with a suspected firearm near Frith Road. Armed officers and sniffer dogs combed the neighbourhood, prompting nearby schools to enforce lockdown procedures as a safety measure.
The hunt for the suspect remains ongoing. Officers have yet to make an arrest, but police maintain a strong presence in the area to keep residents safe.
Pupils Trapped, Parents Panic
The Regis School, next to the Arena Sports Centre and home to nearly 1,600 pupils, was heavily affected. Students were kept inside the leisure centre for up to three hours during the lockdown.
“The whole school has just been placed in full lockdown. I have gone down to collect my children and they are just hysterical. Children were stuck in the leisure centre for two or three hours. Kids are trying to call their parents and then being told off for using their phones,” said one distressed parent.
Parents described scenes of panic, with some children even climbing fences in an attempt to escape the stressful situation. Others praised the calm handling by staff and police but admitted the ordeal was unsettling.
Schools Reopen as Police Continue Search
After thorough searches, all schools in the vicinity have reopened. Regis School issued a statement thanking students and staff for their composed response during the incident.
“To reassure parents, the incident was not school-related and we were able to continue to operate a normal school day. Students behaved perfectly, and staff displayed great leadership and support,” a school spokeswoman said.
Sussex Police urged anyone with information or footage that could aid the investigation to come forward, quoting reference 450 of 22/10.
