A Nottinghamshire police officer just got shot and two suspects are still free

So think about this. An armed officer was shot doing his job, in the middle of a British city, before the sun came up.

And the two people police want to speak to are still out there.

Claire Rukas is the Assistant Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police. She says quote "my thoughts today are with the injured officer, his family and colleagues".

That's one of the force's most senior officers, speaking about the officer who was hurt.

Now, here's what the police have not said. Who the man and woman are. Where they're from. Why the officer went over to them in the first place.

None of that has been officially released. So none of it can be reported here.

The motive? Not known. Whether this was planned, or happened in the moment? Not known. Whether the two suspects are still in Nottingham, or long gone? Not known.

Here's what is confirmed. A firearm was used. That firearm has now been recovered. And the two people connected to it are not in custody.

So why has the force gone public before its own investigation is finished? Because it needs the public's help.

Claire Rukas says quote "even the smallest bit of information could make all the difference".

That's the police saying, plainly, they don't yet have enough to find these two on their own.

People in Nottingham are already saying they feel less safe this morning. One resident told reporters police cannot be everywhere, and that incidents like this feel like they're becoming too common. That's one person's view, not a finding. But it tells you the mood in the city right now.

Nottinghamshire Police is asking anyone with information to come forward and quote the incident number.

For now, a stretch of Nottingham city centre is cordoned off. An officer is recovering in hospital. And two people the police want to speak to have not been found.

Nothing has been proven against anyone, because nobody has been arrested or charged.

And right now, nobody has said where they went.