On a quiet Sunday evening in Thetford, Norfolk, a stretch of the A11 was transformed into the scene of a dramatic and ultimately fatal police shooting, following a collision that quickly escalated into a firearms incident. According to reports from the BBC and Sky News, the events unfolded at around 8:25pm on December 28, 2025, when Norfolk Police were called to London Road in Thetford after a two-vehicle crash was reported.
What began as a routine response to a traffic accident soon took a harrowing turn. As officers arrived, witnesses and police alike observed that one of the drivers involved in the collision left the scene holding what was described as a handgun. Armed response officers were swiftly deployed to the area, and, as confirmed by Norfolk Police and multiple outlets including GB News, the man was shot by police from a short distance away. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The precise sequence of events is now the subject of an independent investigation, but what is clear is the rapid escalation from a road traffic incident to an armed confrontation. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was notified by Norfolk Police shortly after the shooting, with the force making what it described as a “standard procedure” referral. The IOPC confirmed in a statement, "We were notified by the force after the incident on the A11, at Thetford, near the exit for London Road, just before 9:40pm and declared an independent investigation a short time later. Despite the man receiving treatment for his injuries, he sadly died at the scene. We sent investigators to the post-incident procedure to begin our enquiries and start gathering evidence. Our investigation is in its very early stages."
Assistant Chief Constable David Buckley of Norfolk Police addressed public concerns in the wake of the shooting, emphasizing both the rarity and seriousness of such incidents. As quoted by Sky News, Buckley stated, "We understand this incident will cause concern in the community. Our highly trained armed officers deploy to hundreds of firearms related calls each year, but incidents where police discharge firearms are thankfully incredibly rare. A full and independent investigation is already underway. We are of course cooperating fully with the IOPC investigation and will be handing over all bodyworn footage and 999 calls to ensure transparency. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."
The aftermath of the shooting reverberated through the local community and the region’s transportation network. The A11, a major artery through Norfolk, remained closed in both directions from the Thetford Ranges roundabout to the Brandon Road roundabout well into the next day, as collision investigators and forensic teams worked the scene. According to local news reports and National Highways, detailed diversion routes were put in place for both northbound and southbound traffic, with drivers advised to follow alternate routes via the B1106, Green Road, the B1107, and the A134, depending on their direction of travel. The closure was expected to last into the mid-morning or afternoon of December 29, 2025, as police and investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
Images from the scene, captured by BBC Norfolk and other local media, showed a heavy police presence, with forensic officers surveying the carriageway and multiple emergency vehicles lining the closed section of road. The area near the exit for London Road, typically a busy thoroughfare, was eerily quiet, cordoned off by police tape and traffic cones as investigators gathered evidence.
The identity of the man shot by police has not been released at this time, and police have not indicated any ongoing threat to the public. As Assistant Chief Constable Buckley reiterated, "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident." This assurance, while intended to calm public fears, has done little to quell the questions swirling around the necessity and circumstances of the use of lethal force.
Incidents of armed police discharging their weapons remain rare in the UK, where the vast majority of officers do not carry firearms. According to Norfolk Police, their armed units respond to hundreds of firearms-related calls each year, but only a tiny fraction result in shots being fired. The last time Norfolk Police discharged their weapons in a fatal incident was several years ago, underscoring the unusual nature of Sunday’s events.
The IOPC’s involvement is standard protocol in cases where police use lethal force. Their investigation will examine all aspects of the incident, from the initial collision and subsequent actions of the man believed to be carrying a handgun, to the decision-making processes of the responding officers. Body-worn camera footage, 999 call recordings, forensic evidence, and eyewitness statements will all be scrutinized in the coming weeks and months.
While the IOPC’s review is still in its early stages, the transparency and accountability of the investigation process have been emphasized by both the police and the watchdog itself. The IOPC spokesperson noted, "We sent investigators to the post-incident procedure to begin our enquiries and start gathering evidence. Our investigation is in its very early stages." Such procedures are designed to maintain public trust and ensure that any use of force by police is subject to rigorous independent oversight.
The closure of the A11 and the diversion of traffic caused significant disruption, with local businesses and residents expressing concern both about the incident itself and the broader implications for safety in the area. For many, the events served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes dangerous situations that police officers can face, as well as the gravity of decisions made in moments of crisis.
In the days ahead, the community in Thetford—and indeed, much of Norfolk—will be watching closely as the IOPC investigation unfolds. The hope, as expressed by police and independent investigators alike, is that transparency and a thorough review of the facts will provide answers and, ultimately, closure for all those affected by this tragic incident.
As of Monday afternoon, the A11 remained closed, and police continued to urge the public to avoid the area and follow posted diversions. The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting and the events that preceded it is expected to continue for some time, with all eyes on the findings of the IOPC and the future actions of Norfolk Police.
