Two men were in critical condition today while a teenager was seriously injured and being treated for multiple gunshot wounds after a series of incidents yesterday, residents heard.

Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons provided updates on two shootings — one described as likely to have been a tragic accident — and an explosion at a property that all happened in the space of about six hours.

He was joined by Ryan Robinson Perinchief, the Minister of National Security, who also referenced an incident in Hamilton Parish on Sunday, when a 22-year-old man was left with a head wound from a firearm.

Mr Simons said: “Yesterday evening, in particular, three people were badly hurt in three separate incidents in under six hours.”

He explained that at about 5.20pm a motorcyclist was seriously injured near Bakery Lane in Pembroke.

“An approved contractor was culling feral chickens nearby with an air rifle,” Mr Simons said.

“A pellet struck the rider and that rider is now in critical condition.

“Early indications suggest that this is a tragic accident and there will be a full investigation to establish the facts so an informed determination is made.

“We reported the word ‘firearm’ in our press release.

“For us it is a firearm, but in terms of communicating to the public, it is an air rifle — very dangerous, but there’s a distinction between air rifle and what we might traditionally, within the public, refer to as a gun or a rifle or a firearm.”

The critically injured man is aged 42.

Police said earlier that a man was taken into police custody after the incident and that the weapon involved was seized.

Mr Simons said a 31-year-old man injured in an explosion on Westdale Lane in Southampton was “badly burned” and also in critical condition.

“Early reports seem to point to a gas leak,” he added.

“Investigators, including health and safety, are working out the cause and engineers are checking the building.”

At about 10.45pm, police and other first responders were called out to a home in the area of Curving Avenue, Pembroke, where a 17-year-old male was shot several times inside a home.

Mr Simons said: “After the incident, officers detained a young male in connection with the shooting.

“The investigation is active, so I don’t have too many more details that I’m able to provide at this particular point in time.”

The teenager was attended to at the scene by emergency medical technicians and taken by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

Mr Simons said there was nothing to suggest that the three incidents that happened yesterday were linked.

“But clearly, from a policing perspective, we are concerned that the incident occurred early on Sunday morning and the incident last night, are connected,” he added.

Mr Simons said: “The [Bermuda Police] Service has declared a critical incident, and that means that these matters come first, in every unit.”

• More to follow

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