Students may have thought crossbow attacker ‘was in fancy dress’ for Otley Run pub crawl

Students may have thought the crossbow attacker was someone in fancy dress during the incident in Headingley on Saturday (26th April).

The Otley Run bar crawl, popular with students, attracts large crowds in costumes, leading some residents to believe there was a slow reaction from pubgoers during the attack, which left two women seriously injured.

Owen Lawrence, the prime suspect of the attack, died in hospital today (29th April) from self-inflicted injuries.

Robert Crapsey, who has lived in Leeds for 17 years, told the Daily Mail he was coming up Otley Road with his daughters at the time of the incident, when “they [the police] started blocking everything off.”

“There was a lot of police stopping the traffic. Some of the pub runners stopped, but the rest carried on.

“I don’t think they knew anything had happened. I just thought someone had been hit by a car,” he said.

Robert added that people may have mistaken the attacker for a student in fancy dress: “You see swords and scythes. People may have seen him and just thought he had a really bad costume.”

April Place, who also lives in Headingley, agreed: “They all dress up with axes and things so no one would have taken any notice.”

Vicky and Steve Wilson, from Hull, had been in Leeds on the weekend of the incident to visit their daughter, who studies at university in the city.

Steve said: “We hope the girls are all right. The injuries will change their lives.”

Ailith Harley Roberts, who manages a café nearby, fears for the safety of her two daughters.

She said: “It feels really close to home.

Most Read

Netflix has launched a brand new subtitle option for YOU, and it’s a game-changer

‘We were never in love’: Tori heartbreakingly speaks out about why she and Jack split after MAFS

Good lord, Bonnie Blue opened up about what Beavo was like in bed and I’m traumatised

“I have two teenage daughters who are still at school. But one is 17 and will be at university next and wanting to be out and about. So we are feeling very vulnerable and wary.”

One of the victims of the attack has been sent home from hospital whilst the other, who has undergone surgery for life-threatening injuries, is in a stable condition. The women are aged 19 and 31.

The suspect, who has been named Owen Lawrence, was being investigated by counter terrorism police after being seen in Headingley with potential weapons.

Police have confirmed the accused attacker was 38 and from the area.

Counter terrorism police are also examining a social media post that allegedly outlined plans to undertake the attack. The post identified “targets” which included students, nightclub attendees, “Otley Run participants” and “neurotypicals”, among others.

A statement by West Yorkshire Police said: “We can confirm that the 38-year-old man who was arrested and taken to hospital on Saturday with a self-inflicted injury, has died.

“This man was the key suspect and we can name him as Owen Lawrence from Headingley, Leeds.

“We believe he was acting on his own and are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this matter.

“Counter Terrorism Policing North East will continue to conduct a thorough and extensive investigation to establish the facts and circumstances around the incident.

“A file will be compiled and passed to the coroner.”