A 14-YEAR-OLD boy from County Durham has been released on bail pending further inquiries following his arrest in connection with an armed robbery in Suffolk.
Armed police and dog units were despatched after reports that two men had been threatened at gunpoint and ordered to hand over cash – close to Championship side Ipswich Town’s Portman Road ground.
Portman Road, a stand of which is named after Sir Bobby Robson
Two teenagers – one from County Durham and another 14-year-old from the Ipswich area – were arrested on suspicion of robbery.
The incident, at 11.30am on Wednesday, took place in an area which includes shops and numerous offices.
Princes Street, Ipswich
The pair were also being questioned over a further robbery carried out the same night.
A spokesman for Suffolk Police has confirmed the 14-year-old boy was from Seaham.
The spokesman said officers were alerted to a gunpoint robbery in the area of Princes Street, which runs from Ipswich city centre to the railway station and is yards from the stadium, a stand of which bears the name of Sir Bobby Robson.
The Portman Road stadium, close to Princes Street
He said: “Officers immediately began enquiries and the two teenagers – one from Ipswich, the other from County Durham – were arrested on suspicion of robbery around midnight.”
Officers, including armed police and dog units, were immediately sent to the scene.
He said that both were taken into custody at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre, where they were interviewed by detectives in connection with that incident and another robbery in Old Foundry Road just over two hours earlier.
Martlesham Police Investigation Centre, where the teenagers are being questioned
Ipswich Town had played Newcastle United's main rivals for the Championship, Brighton, away, just hours before the incident.
The alleged robberies on Wednesday happened almost a week after a robbery less than half a mile away, on Surrey Road, in which a man was approached by two men who held an object to his back.
Surrey Road, which is close to Princes Street and Portman Road
The suspects then demanded that the victim drop his wallet which he did. The offenders then removed property from the wallet before making off.
Both suspects have been bailed to separate dates next month.
- Anyone with information about the Princes Road incident should call Ipswich CID by calling Suffolk Police on 101.
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