Crossbow attack suspect put 'massacre' plans online

The suspect in the Leeds crossbow attack, who police announced earlier had died of a self-inflicted wound, wrote a hate-filled online manifesto hours before the assault.

Owen Lawrence, 38, was arrested and taken to hospital, where he died, following the attack on the popular Otley Run pub crawl in Headingley on Saturday.

A Facebook post seen by the BBC and understood to have been created by Mr Lawrence detailed plans for the "The Otley Run Massacre" and listed "students, nightclub goers", "neurotypicals" and "police" among targets.

The post described the planned violence as "terrorism, revenge and misogynic rage".

Two women, aged 19 and 31, were injured in the attack and taken to hospital.

The younger woman underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries and remains in a stable condition in hospital. The other victim has been discharged.

A crossbow and a firearm were recovered from the scene.

In the online post, reference was made to a "manifesto" written by the man who killed 51 people during shootings at a mosque and Islamic centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019.

The post contained reference to weapons, including a crossbow and airgun, and it stated he had "explored far right ideas".

In a separate post, also apparently made by Mr Lawrence earlier this year, he listed that he hated "gender equality", "feminists of all four waves" and "feminoids", as well as "soap operas" and "society".

Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE) said it was believed that Mr Lawrence, from Headingley, was acting on his own and it was not currently seeking anyone else.

They said officers were continuing to "conduct a thorough and extensive investigation to establish the facts and circumstances around the incident".

Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, from CTPNE, said: "We understand there are concerns around the incident, and questions about how and why this has happened.

"Our teams are committed to carrying out an in-depth investigation to provide answers to those affected."

Police were called to Otley Road just after 14:45 BST on Saturday after reports of a man seen with weapons.

The Otley Run is an informal 19-stop drinking route spread over three miles along Otley Road and is popular with the thousands of students at the city's universities.

West Yorkshire Police's Ch Supt Steve Dodds said: "We fully appreciate the understandable shock and concern this incident has caused in the Headingley community.

"We are continuing to work closely alongside our partner agencies to support and reassure those living, working or studying in, or visiting the area."

The attack prompted calls for better security around the route of the pub crawl.

Headingley Labour councillor Jonathan Pryor, who is also deputy leader of Leeds City Council, said the authority was looking at ways to make it safer.

"It's not a formal event, it's just a pub crawl - but there is always a huge amount of people," he said.

"But there aren't the same security measures you would get at a football match or Leeds Carnival. That's something we need to look at."

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government was "very aware of concerns about the use of crossbows in violent attacks".

She told MPs: "We share those concerns, and last week the government tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to strengthen age verification controls on both online sale and delivery of crossbows."

The government planned to "further limit the availability of accessibility of crossbows", Johnson added.

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