Shocked residents have described how they were woken up in the early hours of this morning by multiple gun shots in Ipswich’s Kelly Road.
Witnesses also told police that items were set on fire and thrown at a property in the street, near Chantry Park, during the incident around 2.20am.
The National Police Air Service helicopter swept over the town in search of the culprits following the disturbance.
No one is believed to have been hurt.
There is a police cordon in place shutting off part of the road with several officers on scene chatting to people as they leave their homes asking if they heard or saw anything.
Residents have said there was a car fire in Kelly Road last week.
One woman, who lives nearby, said: “I saw some lights and kids laughing around 2am.
“Police came straight away and there were helicopters.
“There was fire on the grass. It was quite scary.”
Another woman who lives in the adjacent Copperfield Road said: “About 2.20am I heard loud bangs.
“My daughter lives across the street and she text me asking if I heard that sound, like shooting. She was a bit scared.
“I didn’t want to come out because you don’t know who is about.
“It definitely sounded like gun shots. The dog started barking next door.
“Last week a car was set on fire. It looks like it was in the same area.
“I know it can happen anywhere but it was does worry me now there has been two incidents.
“You have in the back of your mind, ‘what will happen next?’”
One woman walking along Copperfield Road this morning expressed her shock at what had happened.
She said: “It is really awful.
“Kelly Road is a little bit iffy but it is a shock.
“It worries me in a way but I know I have got good neighbours.”
Another woman on the school-run said she was awoken by around five gun shots in the small hours.
“They were really loud,” she added. “Then two seconds later I saw a police car go past really fast.
“I felt really anxious. I couldn’t go back to sleep after that.”
One customer at a nearby shop said it was not unusual for events like this to happen in Kelly Road, adding that he was not worried about his safety.
Everyone wished to remain anonymous.
David Ellesmere, leader of Ipswich Borough Council and a councillor for the area, said: “We were shocked to here of this incident in Kelly Road and want to reassure residents living in the area that the council takes this very seriously and that we shall be working closely in support of the police and other agencies to resolve the situation.”
A spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “Officers were contacted around 2.20am today to reports shots had been heard in Kelly Road.
“Multiple calls were then received, including information that someone may have been throwing what appeared to be items that were on fire at an address there. “Several people had been seen in the vicinity.
“Police attended and made a search of the area. The offenders had fled and no one at the property was hurt.
“The National Police Air Service helicopter was deployed as part of work to trace those behind the incident.
“A full investigation into attempted arson and whether shots were fired is underway and police are looking at motives for what happened. Officers are conducting patrols in the area.”
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should call Suffolk Constabulary on 101 quoting cad 42 of today.
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