Man goes on killing spree in Cumbria

Investigations are underway today into why a 52 year old local Cumbrian man went on a killing spree in across the west area of the Lake District yesterday, killing 12 people and wounding many others before killing himself.

Local Derek Bird who worked as a taxi driver started his killing spree yesterday morning, the worst seen in Britain since Dunblane in 1996, firstly shooting dead his twin brother, a fellow taxi driver and a solicitor before heading out in his car armed with a rifle and a pistol. He then went on to kill another 10 people and injured 25 others within a 20 mile drive by pointing his high powered rifle out of his car a Citroen Picasso and taking pot shots at passersby. Mr Bird then apparently crashed his car in the surrounding countryside where he walked off to nearby woodland and killed himself.

Currently it is not known exactly why Bird went on his killing spree one of the lines of investigation is that there had recently been friction between some of the taxi drivers about touting for business instead of going to the taxi rank and waiting until they got to the front of the queue. Its believed Bird was having financial difficulties and was angry about the touting by other drivers in the town, he had previously mentioned only a couple of days ago his frustration at the problem.

Those killed have been named locally as:

David Bird, Derek’s twin brother.
Darren Newcastle, a fellow taxi driver who was in his 30’s and is believed to be on of the drivers Bird accused of touting for business.
Kevin Commons, local 60 year old solicitor who was married.
Susan Hughes, a local 57 year old mother of two grown up children.
Kenneth Fishburn, a 70 year old retired security worker.
James and Jennifer Jackson, local couple form a nearby small hamlet, with two children.
Garry Purdham, was a local farmer’s son and a keen rugby player, he was 31 and had two young children.
Michael Pike, a local 64 year old man, who was shot whilst cycling.
Jane Robinson, a local pensioner who lived with her sister both of whom were unmarried.
There were also two other victims, one thought to be a resident of the hamlet of Carleton and another who was a resident of the Egremont area.

Last night the Queen and the Prime Minister David Cameron expressed their heartfelt sympathy to those grieving.

UK News