SHOCKED business owners in Braintree have described the impact of a targeted shooting in the town centre.
Essex Police said three people were taken to hospital after a firearm believed to be a shotgun was discharged in Market Place at about 10.10pm on August 31.
Two teenagers suffered potentially serious facial injuries while another man suffered injuries. None of their injuries are said to be life threatening.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and remains in custody. Officers believe all those involved in the incident know each other.
Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public, but officers remained in the town centre on September 1 with cordons in place in Market Place, Bank Street and Rayne Road throughout the morning.
Simon Churly, owner of Stationary Solutions in Fairfield Road, said he heard police helicopters while in bed.
He said he later heard from a Tesco worker that there had been a shooting and read the police statements on social media.
Mr Churly said: “I’ve been here over 20 years.
“It tends to be more younger people kids hanging around in their gangs. When you walk through the town centre you see all the groups of kids.”
The cordons in place restricted more than a dozen businesses from opening, including banks in Bank Street and the businesses which open onto Market Place.
Nina Williams, owner of The Lounge, opened her venue’s back doors to serve customers while the cordons were in place.
She said: “We’re part of a pub watch group so word was spreading last night that someone was running around with a gun. Most of the pubs that were open last night locked down and locked everyone in to keep safe.
“It’s quite upsetting because you just don’t expect something like this to be happening in such a small town.”
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Rida Jouini, owner of Golden Scissors barbers, said: “It has been very shocking. We’ve never had this before. I was a bit surprised when I came in in the morning.
“It has affected us, but we’re still open so can’t complain.”
Mehmet Kilic, owner of Mosaic, said: “We came to open the shop and didn’t know what’s happened. No one can sit in. Normally we are busier at this time of day.”
Police cordons were in place either side of Mosaic in Bank Street before they were removed around midday.
“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Mr Kilic added.
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