This is the shocking moment a man strolls along a street in Leeds with what appears to be a crossbow amid reports three people have been injured in a daylight attack in a major city today.

West Yorkshire Police have declared a ‘major incident’ after three individuals were injured in Leeds, as several eyewitnesses alleged they had seen a man armed with a weapon. 

Disturbing Facebook posts are circulating on social media which appear to show an individual from Leeds publicly discussing plans to attack the Otley Road area, but police have emphasised that efforts to establish what has happened are at an early stage.

It comes as officers were called to the scene on Otley Road in Headingley at around 3pm, and cordons continue to remain in place. 

Witnesses claimed to have seen a man with ‘a crossbow’, however this has not been confirmed by the police force. The force have confirmed a male suspect has been detained. 

The three people who were injured are currently being treated for non life threatening injuries. 

The incident took place near a student even dubbed ‘The Otley Run’ as students were due to enjoy the end of term. 

Three people have been left injured amid reports of a man spotted ‘armed with a crossbow’ in a major city today (Pictured: Police at the scene in Leeds today)

Images of weapons near the scene in Headlingley as West Yorkshire declare a major incident as three people are injured (Pictured: A Sig Sauer Rattler CO2 BB gun)

Pictured left to right: A break barrel air rifle, that fires lead pellets and a crossbow

Several areas are cordoned off along the Otley Run, and buses were stopped with passengers forced to get off.

Local Bethany Connelly was told by others while she was at work that they had seen a man with crossbow in the vicinity.

She told Manchester Evening News: ‘I was at work at a nearby restaurant and some girls were sitting outside. They asked if they could come in and finish what they were having because they’d seen someone with a crossbow. 

‘This was all before the incident, and a few minutes later, we saw ambulances and police rushing down the roads.’

The incident reportedly took further up from a bar named Woodies Pub, which has since confirmed road closures from St Chad’s Drive. 

They also said the road was off limits to pedestrians, who would have to walk via Becketts Park. 

Police present at the scene in Otley Road today. The injuries sustained by the three individuals are said not to be life-threatening

A male suspect has since been detained by the police force (pictured: Otley Road)

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called to Otley Road, Leeds at 2.47pm today to reports of an ongoing serious incident involving a man seen with weapons.

‘Officers attended and located three people who had suffered injuries which are at this time not being treated as life threatening.

‘A male suspect was located and detained.

‘Enquiries are in their initial stages to determine the wider circumstances of what has taken place and further updates will follow.

‘A number of police scenes remain in place and ensuring public safety remains our priority.’