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Manhunt after woman seriously injured at village pub

Thomas Mackintosh
BBC News
Stuart Maisner
BBC News, South East
Dan MacLaren/BBC Police stand outside the pub, which is taped off. A police car is in the foreground.Dan MacLaren/BBC
Kent Police said officers were called on Friday evening to a report of a disturbance at the pub

A search is under way for a man after a woman was left seriously injured in an incident at a village pub near Sevenoaks.

Kent Police said it was called to a "disturbance" at the Three Horseshoes on Main Road, Knockholt, just after 19:00 GMT on Friday.

Officers attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and found a woman in her 40s had "suffered serious injuries".

Witnesses reported to the BBC that they heard "bangs" and were told the woman had been shot, although this has not been confirmed by police.

Daniel MacLaren/BBC A road in the village of Knockholt with two police officers and a police tape cordonDaniel MacLaren/BBC
A police cordon has been put up around the pub after the incident

Officers said the man and woman were thought to know each other.

Steve Maines, a parish councillor in Knockholt, told the BBC he heard a "commotion" outside the venue and was told someone had been shot.

He said: "We were sitting having our Valentine's Day meal when all of a sudden we heard this huge commotion outside in the car park.

"We were told someone had been shot so we had to leave."

Villager Dorothy Wong said: "I heard around three to four bangs outside and loud shouting from a woman's voice."

Ray Picot has lived in the village for 30 years.

He said: "We looked out and saw the whole area cordoned off with ambulances, police and flashing lights.

"It's hard to believe that something like this has happened in our village."

A notice on the pub's Facebook page said it would be closed on Saturday "following a tragic incident outside the pub last night".

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The Three Horseshoes is located about five miles (8km) north-west of Sevenoaks.

A Kent Police spokesperson said: "The suspect, a man who is believed to be known to the victim, left the area and is currently outstanding.

"Enquiries to locate him and to establish the full circumstances are ongoing."

BBC reporter Daniel MacLaren said on Saturday morning the area immediately around the pub remained cordoned off with police tape.

Police officers are standing by at the scene to prevent access.

Juliette Parkin/BBC Police forensic van parked outside the Three Horseshoes pub in KnockholtJuliette Parkin/BBC
Police forensic teams are working around the pub's exterior

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