British family took cover in H&M as gunman opened fire in Texas mall
09.05.2023 - 08:29
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A British man has told how he and his family took cover in H&M as a gunman opened fire in a Texas shopping mall.
Eight people were killed in the shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets on Saturday, including two young sisters and a three-year-old boy and his parents. Abu Akther, formerly of Hanley and Seabridge, was inside the mall shopping for a swimsuit for his daughter when he heard gunshots which 'sounded like a pop', Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
After making sure his children and wife were safe, the 41-year-old said he tried to find out what was happening and saw bodies lying on the ground. He described the scenes as surreal as they took cover under clothes and railings inside the shop.
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He said they were then ordered to hide in a storeroom where they remained for an hour until the police escorted them out of the building. 'Hundreds' of police cars and ambulances were outside.
It has since been confirmed that a young engineer and a security guard were also killed in the attack which ended when suspected gunman Mauricio Garcia, 33, was fatally shot by police. Several victims remain in hospital.
Abu, who used to work at Vale Curry House in Burslem, said: "We went to the mall and it was busy. We couldn't find a parking space.
"I went into H&M and as we walked in, we just heard a pop. We didn't know it was a gunshot.
"Then there was a rapid 'pop pop pop'. I told my family to stay inside and hide.
"We were right at the entrance and my family covered themselves with railings and clothes. I went back out and I saw a card messed up the window as I could hear more gunshots.
"There were bodies on the floor to the left and a lady came towards me. She had