A University of Surrey staff member was shot with a crossbow on Thursday morning, and police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. The victim, who worked on the campus safety team, was taken to hospital after the attack at Manor Park Student Village in Guildford.

Surrey Police said officers were called at around 10:00 BST to reports of a man in his 50s being shot with the weapon. Chief Supt Jon Groenen said the suspect was detained at the scene shortly after the incident, while the victim's next of kin were informed and were being supported by officers.

The case has put a university campus at the centre of a serious criminal investigation, with police keeping a significant emergency services presence at the scene through Thursday. The university said it was giving police its full support and that the campus remained open and operational even as officers stayed on site.

Groenen said investigators were now working to establish the circumstances of the assault and urged anyone with information or witnesses to come forward. The suspect was a former student at the university, adding a further layer to a case that has already forced staff, students and police to deal with a violent attack in the middle of the working day.

What remains unclear is why the staff member was targeted at Manor Park Student Village, and that question is now at the centre of the police inquiry. For Surrey, the immediate answer is more straightforward: a member of its safety team is in hospital, a 21-year-old man is in custody, and the university is trying to keep daily life moving while detectives work the scene.