The 35-year-old is being held on suspicion of murder after an incident at house in East Sussex

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Two women have been shot dead at a house in East Sussex, police have said.

Two other women, including one who is pregnant, were led to safety by officers at the scene in St Leonards. Both were uninjured but were taken to hospital because of shock, Sussex police said.

Officers were called to the house on Bexhill Road at 7.43pm on Friday. A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder two hours later. Police said the victims, aged 32 and 53, were known to the suspect.

Amber Rudd, the home secretary, whose constituency covers St Leonard’s, said:





Amber Rudd MP (@AmberRuddHR) 1/2 My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims in last night's tragic shooting incident in Bexhill Road. I've spoken to the police chief and want to commend the swift actions of the police and other emergency services in responding to this incident.

Amber Rudd MP (@AmberRuddHR) 2/2 I'd like to reassure residents that as the police have said, they've already arrested someone in connection with this tragedy. There's a great community spirit amongst residents of West St. Leonards which I know will continue, helping the families and friends of the victims.

The home secretary is due to publish a new serious violence strategy for improving public safety and preventing violent offending later this month. The strategy will look at both knife and gun crime.



The shootings in East Sussex come after two men were shot dead in London in separate incidents. A murder investigation was launched after a 20-year-old was killed in Forest Road in Walthamstow on Wednesday night. The death came a week after 19-year-old Kelvin Odunuyi was shot dead outside a Vue cinema in Wood Green, north London. In another incident, a 14-year-old boy was left with “life-changing” injuries after being shot in north London on Tuesday.

DCS Jason Tingley said: “Tragically two women have died after being shot and our thoughts are with their family and friends.



“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident but we are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.”