THE TIMES.
16th MAY , 1981
Air rifle sniper hits three people near Old Bailey
By Staff Reporters
City of London police mounted a rapid search of buildings in Fleet Lane, off Old Bailey, shortly after lunchtime yesterday when a sniper using an air rifle hit three people outside-the main entrance to the Central Criminal Court.
They were not seriously injured and did not require hospital treatment. Later police said a youth was being questioned. The shots were thought to have come from a high building about 100 yards from the court.
The first shot hit a woman, one of about 12 who were demonstrating on the pavement opposite the entrance. Various activist movements, including Women Against Violence and the English Collective of Prostitutes, have been demonstrating vocally and with placards during the trial of Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.
After being hit, in the shoulder, the woman and her companions, who had been chanting at intervals throughout the morning and lunchtime, left.
The second victim was Mr. William Clegg, aged 32, a barrister from Southend, Essex, who was crossing the road to the court entrance when he was hit on the back of the neck. "It felt like I had been hit with a hammer", he said.
Mr. John Voos, a press photographer said " Mr. Clegg dropped his attache case and slumped to the ground, holding his neck. He looked dazed and startled but was able to get up after a minute or so and began looking for the pellet." Police found it later.
The third victim was Mr. Barrie Beattie, a press photographer for The Sun newspaper, who was hit in the leg but was not hurt. Before the courts adjourned for the weekend more police appeared on duty at the front of the court building.
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