Otley Run pub crawl attack

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Otley Run pub crawl attack
Otley Run pub crawl attack
Location Headingley, Leeds, England
Date26 April 2025 (2025-04-26)
14:47 (BST)
TargetParticipants of the Otley Run pub crawl
Attack type
Crossbow attack
Weapons
Deaths1 (the perpetrator)
Injured2
PerpetratorOwen Lawrence
Motive Misogyny

Two women were injured in a crossbow attack whilst participating in the Otley Run pub crawl during the afternoon of 26 April 2025, with one of the injured having to undergo emergency surgery. [1] [2] The perpetrator, 38-year-old Owen Lawrence, was arrested at the scene, but taken to hospital after the discovery of a self-inflicted injury via Air rifle. He would die of his injuries two days after the attack. [3] [4]

Contents

A subsequent investigation into Lawrence's Facebook account began following the attack. It was discovered that he had posted a misogynistic manifesto online prior to the attack, and detailed his plans for the "Otley Run Massacre." [3] [4] [5]

Background

The Otley Run is a popular pub crawl in the city of Leeds. The route follows the suburbs of Far Headingley, Headingley and Hyde Park before leading into Leeds City Centre. The majority of participants in the crawl are from 18 to 20 years of age due to a tradition of many students at Leeds' Universities viewing the pub crawl as a "rite of passage." [6]

Perpetrator

Owen Lawrence Eames (c. 1986 - 28 April 2025) was 38 years old at the time of his death. He was reported as living in a flat on Wood Lane Court in Headingley. [3] [7] [8] The property was raided by police following Lawrence's identification as the perpetrator. [8] In 2000, when Lawrence was 14, he had legally changed his name to Owen Lawrence, omitting his former surname. [3] [9] He was named as the perpetrator to the wider public on 28 April 2025 following his death in hospital, with police also stating that he had acted alone during the attack. [8] [5] He was registered as disabled at the time of the attack, possibly due to Autism spectrum disorder. [3]

An investigation into Lawrence's Facebook account showed that he had expressed misogynistic and other extremist views. Posts from an account linked to Lawrence had also showed hatred for ideologies such as Feminism and Islamic extremism. [10] Admiration for Brenton Tarrant was also expressed by Lawrence, possibly linked to his animosity towards Islam. [5] [8] Lawrence also stated his love for school shooters, including Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, Pekka Eric Auvinen, Vladislav Roslakov, and Ethan Blair Miller. [10]

Lawrence had at one point posted two Selfies of himself. In one he was wearing a white shirt with the phrase "Natural Selection" printed onto it, similar to the shirt worn by Eric Harris during the Columbine High School massacre. [5] In another, he wore a white shirt with a Jerusalem cross imprint, a possible reference to Anders Breivik. [10] In the hours prior to the attack, Lawrence had made a post to his Facebook detailing his plans. [11]

Attack

At 2:47 p.m. on Saturday 26 April 2025, police were called after two women, aged 19 and 31, were reportedly injured after being shot with a crossbow. [1] [2] [12] The 19-year-old was found to be in critical condition and rushed to a nearby hospital. She would be made to undergo life saving surgery, and was eventually discharged on 30 April. [2] [13] Soon afterwards, the perpetrator was discovered and promptly arrested, however he was taken to a hospital after a self inflicted air rifle wound to the head was discovered. [3] [7]

Aftermath and response

The Otley Run route was closed off until Sunday following the incident whilst police identified Lawrence as the perpetrator. [14] Counter Terrorism Policing would issue a statement in the days after the incident, stating that no other suspects were speculated to be involved in the attack. [15]

The incident raised concerns around the country surrounding the growing threat of misogynistic violence. Just four years prior to the attack, a mass shooting in Plymouth was carried out by a self described Incel. [12] [16] Dr. Anna Kruglova from the University of Salford stated that people should be more "mindful" of the threat of misogynistic terrorism following the incident. [16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Counter-terror police called in for Leeds incident that left two women seriously injured". the Guardian . 26 April 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Johnson, Emily; Wood, Grace (27 April 2025). "Woman hurt in attack involving crossbow 'stable'". BBC News . Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spereall, David (12 May 2025). "Crossbow suspect died from gunshot, inquest hears". BBC News . Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Inquest opens into death of Leeds crossbow attack suspect Owen Lawrence". itv News . 12 May 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Moss, Alex (29 April 2025). "Crossbow attack suspect put 'massacre' plans online". BBC News . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "Leeds's own Otley Run is ultimate in student initiation". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 Thornton, Lucy (29 April 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Leeds crossbow attacker 'shot himself in head with air rifle before dying in hospital'". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Leeds crossbow suspect 'wrote Facebook manifesto citing terrorism and misogynistic rage'". the Guardian . 29 April 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Leeds crossbow attack suspect died from 'self-inflicted gunshot', inquest hears". Sky News . 12 May 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Dowdeswell, Andrew (29 April 2025). "Who is Owen Lawrence? Inside twisted life of woman-hating incel behind sickening 'Otley Run Massacre'". LeedsLive . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Dowdeswell, Andrew (29 April 2025). "Chilling 'Otley Run Massacre' post Oz Lawrence published one hour before misogynistic attack in full". YorkshireLive . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  12. 1 2 Scheer, Victoria; Constable, Oli (9 May 2025). "Pub crawl crossbow attack raises route safety fear". BBC News . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Phillips, Holly (30 April 2025). "Woman injured in crossbow attack leaves hospital". BBC News . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Wood, Grace (27 April 2025). "'Otley Run should be happy and silly but this is scary'". BBC News . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Updated Statement on Leeds Incident". Counter Terrorism Policing . 28 April 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  16. 1 2 Wood, Grace (10 May 2025). "'Otley Run attack shows misogynistic violence is growing'". BBC News . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
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