Taser fired as trouble flares at Birmingham Crown Court
A taser was fired by police who surrounded Birmingham Crown Court this afternoon when trouble flared.
Officers were seen guarding the entrance of the court, at the junction of Dalton Street and Newton Street, by 3.30pm.
Bystanders said they could hear shouting coming from inside the building.
West Midlands Police said the disturbance was linked to a court hearing involving 18-year-old Armani Mitchell, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of teenage rapper Joshua Ribera, 18, in Birmingham last September.
Police vans and patrol cars blocked off nearby road.
West Midlands Police said, via Twitter, that officers already at the court called in for backup as trouble flared.
They said: "A taser was discharged at a man who then ran away from the scene. He remains unidentified.
"Two people were escorted away from the court building by officers.
"Detectives will now be speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage from inside the court in an attempt to understand exactly what took place and what offences have been committed.
"Surrounding streets were cordoned off in the interest of public safety."
