Thousands attend memorial services to remember Britain shooting victims

Moment of silence observed for UK shooting victims

LONDON — Thousands of residents in the northern England area where a gunman killed a dozen people attended memorial services on Wednesday to remember the victims.

Prayers were said for the victims at several services held in the towns and villages of west Cumbria, where 52-year-old taxi driver Derrick Bird went on a shooting rampage last week. The services were followed by a minute’s silence.

Police are investigating what triggered Bird to drive his car around Cumbria and kill 12 people — including his twin brother, a family lawyer, former work mates and strangers.

Police said he killed 10 victims in a single hour, firing from the window of his car and shooting many in the face. Eleven people were seriously wounded.

Prince Charles — who is known to visit the picturesque Cumbria region every year — said he would visit the seaside town of Whitehaven on Friday to “show his support and sympathy for the community.”

Charles had said he and his wife Camilla were “utterly horrified” by the killing spree.