Youths held over airgun shooting in Scotland

ELEVEN pupils were injured in Scotland when an air weapon was fired near a school yesterday.

Police said the 11 youngsters, five females and six males, aged between 12 and 16, received injuries to the legs and torso.

An 18-year-old male and 15-year-old boy have been detained, Strathclyde Police said. They said the students at Auchinleck Academy in East Ayrshire were not seriously hurt in the incident in Church Street in the afternoon.

One pupil remains at Crosshouse Hospital, outside Kilmarnock.

Police are following a definite line of inquiry.

Auchinleck is about 35 miles south of Glasgow.

Police said they were called to the academy at 1.40pm following reports of an airgun being fired.

The incident happened less than half a mile from the school and near a Co-Op food store.

A spokeswoman from East Ayrshire Council said: “The school responded immediately, informing the police and parents of the children involved, and sought appropriate medical attention.

“The council is working closely with the school to ensure that the school, the children and their families are appropriately supported.”

Local Labour MP and MSP Cathy Jamieson said: “This incident highlights the dangers these weapons pose to our communities.

“I will be working hard both at Westminster and Holyrood in the days and weeks ahead. I am pleased that an individual is now in custody.”

Scotland’s Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “My thoughts are with the pupils and families involved in this extremely disturbing incident — concern about the misuse of air weapons is widespread and long-standing in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government is in contact with both Strathclyde Police and East Ayrshire Council about what happened, and ministers are being kept fully informed.

“Responsibility for air weapons is to be transferred from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament, and action will follow.”