According to police, several people were killed in an alleged violent attack in the southern English city of Plymouth.
"There have been some fatalities and several other injuries are being treated on the spot," the Devon and Cornwall Police wrote in a statement Thursday evening.
It was said that they had been called to a "serious firearm incident" early in the evening.
The police said they assume that the situation is now under control.
The affected area in the Keyham district has been cordoned off and should be avoided.
According to the broadcaster Sky News, an attacker involved was said to have been shot.
Police and rescue workers were on duty with a large number of forces in the early evening.
Initially, no details were known about the exact number of victims or the background to the offenses.
A local BBC reporter reported countless police vehicles and several helicopters.
The British Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed her condolences to those affected by the alleged acts of violence and called on the population to remain calm.
"The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected," wrote Patel on Twitter Thursday evening.
She is in contact with the responsible police commissioner.
Local MPs also called on residents to stay in their homes, follow the instructions of the police and not share pictures or speculation on social media.
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer wrote that the incident was unrelated to terrorism and that the suspect was not on the run.
Labor MP Luke Pollard tweeted that he was awaiting confirmation of how many victims there were in the incident.
"But this looks like a very sad day for our city and our community," wrote Pollard.
The police announced more information for the evening.