Teenage girls shot with BB gun in Bristol

Police officers were patrolling the shopping centre when the girls alerted them of their pellet wounds

Two teenage girls received hospital treatment after being after being shot with pellets from a BB gun.

Officers were called to Cabot Circus in Bristol at about 17:45 GMT on 12 February to reports a group of boys had a BB-type handgun, which was fired, causing alarm to passers-by.

Three girls later approached patrolling police officers, two of which had pellet wounds and went to hospital.

Officers arrested three 14-year-old boys at about 20:50 GMT, police said.

A spokesperson added that just before 20:30 a group of boys also entered an independent convenience shop in Broad Quay and again a BB gun was fired. Nobody was hurt, police said.

The Avon and Somerset force said officers were unable to locate the described weapon.

The boys - who were visiting the city from outside the Avon and Somerset policing area - have been released on bail with conditions not to come to Bristol pending further enquiries.

The force is now appealing for witnesses and further information to aid their investigation.