[PICTURE] Surrey v Middlesex suspended after arrow is fired on to Oval pitch

[Gabbar Singh]

Well this must be a first.

Surrey’s County Championship match against Middlesex at the Oval in south London was suspended in extraordinary circumstances at around 4.25pm on the final day as a metal arrow was fired on to the field of play, landing near players and umpires.

With the match meandering towards a draw, the arrow – which had a metal tip – landed on the square, close to the Surrey fielder Ollie Pope, and the players alerted the umpires, who immediately decided the players should leave the field. Most ran to the changing rooms.

The “projectile” – which was about 18 inches long – is thought to have been fired from outside the ground, and police and ground security were soon urging all fans in the stands to move themselves under cover and inside.

Metropolitan police said in a statement: “Officers are on scene. The ground is in the process of a controlled evacuation.

“There are no reported injuries. At this early stage it is believed that the object came from outside of the ground. There have been no arrests. We retain an open mind as to motive. Enquiries continue.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Play suspended at the Oval on advice of security. Players have left the field after a crossbow bolt landed on the square..... <a href="https://t.co/V5fJADvuKK">pic.twitter.com/V5fJADvuKK</a></p>— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Middlesex_CCC/status/903283290295160832">August 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Bewal Express]

What cretin would fire a missile into anything?

 

[MenInG]

A man has been arrested after a crossbow bolt was fired into the Oval cricket ground during a match.

The 35-year-old was held on on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm following the incident at the south London stadium on 31 August.

Spectators watching Surrey's match with Middlesex were asked to take cover and the players left the field.

Armed police carried out a controlled evacuation of the ground and the game was called off.

Det Con Dominic Landragin said: "Although nobody was injured, this was a reckless action taken with no regard for the safety and wellbeing of the spectators or the players.

"It is important that we trace those responsible and I urge anyone who has footage of the incident to get in touch as soon as possible."
The arrested man has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

The game ended in a draw, with John Simpson's unbeaten 88 helping Middlesex into a lead of 181 runs with three wickets in hand when the players were taken off the pitch.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-41136987