Pizza parlour's gun threat horror

The owner of a Shrewsbury takeaway where a second man was threatened with a gun following the Buttermarket nightclub shooting has spoken of his shock.

Police have revealed that a second man was confronted by a gunman in Al Piccolino takeaway pizza parlour at 3.30am after the earlier shooting, which left reveller Daniel Maxwell with arm injuries.

Paul Bond, owner of the Castle Gates restaurant, said a group of up to 80 men from Birmingham went into the diner at about 2am on Saturday to order food.

But he said he knew nothing about any of his customers being threatened with a weapon in the restaurant.

"I didn't know anything about the shooting until later on Saturday," he said.

"We had a large influx of lads from Birmingham. We weren't expecting it and it's not the usual thing for the town. I didn't see anyone with a gun.

"It wasn't a problem, they just filled the place up and there was about two coach loads, between 60 and 80 people."

Mr Bond said he only realised something was wrong as he and his staff went to leave.

"We had packed up and were on our way home only to find lots of armed police outside. We had to ask permission to leave. They let us go down Smithfield Road but not through the town, they had blocked it off."

The incident at Al Piccolino came just an hour and a half after Mr Maxwell was shot on the dancefloor at the Howard Street club.

He was hit in the arm by a gunman who fired two shots at about 2am during the Pandemonium night, which was a private promotion being staged at the venue.

Hundreds of terrified revellers poured out of the club and headed for Vincents Taxis, which is next to Al Piccolino.

Clubbers were told by police to stay inside the premises which were locked after armed officers arrived at the scene.

Police also closed Castle Gates and parts of Smithfield Road while they searched unsuccessfully for the gunman. An investigation into the shooting, which is being led by Detective Inspector Sheila Thornes, in now under way.

Club-goers who attended the event have e-mailed the Shropshire Star over the weekend to express their shock at the shooting.

Jamaz said: "I have run events at this venue over the last two years. This is such a surprise. The Buttermarket is probably one of the safest venues in the town."

Alex Evans said: "From what I was told by one of my mates who was at the venue, it was a group of youths with guns."

Shane said: "I was also at this event and knew what had occurred upon hearing the first three shots ring out. It was total chaos, people running everywhere and falling over.

"It had all seemed to quieten down until another two shots rang out. I was just so angry at the fact that these people had to ruin it for the masses. What was even worse for the coach travellers is the fact that a special arms unit had been dispatched to search every single coach."

Carl said: "The Buttermarket is Shrewsbury's premiere venue and all the staff and door staff do their utmost to make it a safe place.

"Nothing has ever happened like this before and this is completely out of the blue."

Another web comment said: "I was there, never been so scared in my life."

While one reveller said: "There is only so much door supervisors can do in way of searching people. The door staff at the Buttermarket are the most efficient and professional in Shrewsbury.

"I have never been searched at any other venue in Shrewsbury, yet I am searched every time I visit the Buttermarket. Sadly even with all the security measures taken, it's impossible to put a stop to this.

"These things are going to happen with determined people masterminding these crimes."

Superintendent Pete Lightwood said officers were now tracing the history of the Pandemonium club night, which is promoted on the Myspace website, to see if it has a history of trouble.

Mr Lightwood said the event had attracted a large number of clubbers from the West Midlands who had travelled to Shrewsbury.

But he said no details or descriptions had been released of potential suspects.

"This is a very rare occurrence and West Mercia does not have a high level of gun crime," he said.

By Tom Warren