Gun, knives, machetes and hammer found in cemetery after fight

More details have emerged about the incident, after officers set up a scene guard at Fulford Cemetery following reports of a group of people fighting at about 2.15pm on Wednesday.

A dozen officers were sent to the scene, but by the time a dozen officers arrived 10 minutes later, the fight was over and nobody was left at the cemetery. 

Police recovered weapons from inside the cemetery and inside a vehicle which was also seized on Wednesday. Further searches by police and sniffer dogs in the cemetery on Thursday discovered three more bladed weapons and a firearm.

A spokeswoman said the weapons included Stanley knives, machetes and a hammer, and said that although the discovery was "alarming for members of the public", officers believed "the wider community were not at risk from the incident".

She said: "The investigation remains ongoing to trace the people connected to the weapons who can expect to face the full force of the law once they are traced."

Police vans at the main gate at 8am.

Four police vans were parked at the cemetery at 8am on Thursday, with three blocking the main entrance and another to the rear of the cemetery.

A shift change at 8.30am left one van blocking the main gate and a PCSO to the rear of the cemetery, with more officers and sniffer dogs seen at the cemetery throughout the day.

Entry to the cemetery required approval by officers at the scene, and vehicles were not allowed into the cemetery until the searches concluded late this afternoon.

Officers at the scene on Thursday.

Chief Inspector Mark Grange, from North Yorkshire Police, said the incident was "very concerning" due to the use of weapons, but no arrests had yet been made.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to investigate the full circumstances and, ultimately, trace those involved in the fighting.

"While these enquiries continue, police patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide a visible and reassuring presence in the community.

"We realise the temporary closure of the cemetery may cause some upset with local residents, but are aiming to keep this disruption to a minimum by completing the searches as soon as possible."

The police spokeswoman said police had no descriptions of the people involved in the fight, and were unable to confirm how many people were involved.

Anyone who saw the incident or who has information that could assist the investigation, should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting reference NYP-17022016-0216.