Clapham shooting – live: Suspects still at large and identities unknown after three injured
Shotgun believed to have discharged accidentally as suspect fled police chase
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Detectives are still urgently trying to identify the suspects involved in an incident in Clapham which left two people with shotgun pellet injuries after a police chase in south London.
Officers were pursuing two people on a moped which failed to stop in Clapham on Friday evening when the bike collided with a member of the public and crashed shortly afterwards, the Metropolitan Police said.
“Officers have established that one of the suspects was in possession of a shotgun which was discharged as it struck the ground having been dropped while the suspects fled on foot,” Scotland Yard said in an update on Saturday afternoon.
Two women in the street, aged 27 and 36 years, sustained shotgun pellet injuries. They were not deliberately targeted, police said. All three victims have now been released from hospital.
Police had swarmed the high street and a witness told The Independent a gun was recovered by officers at the scene.
DCI Gemma Alger said: “Our investigation to identify the two people responsible is at an early stage, but we will be relentless in following up every line of enquiry to arrest them.”
When and where did the shooting happen?
The shooting happened just before 5pm on Friday as police were in pursuit of a moped that failed to stop.
Pictures from the scene appear to show a bullet hole through the window of the Belle Bue pub in Clapham Common as the suspect’s moped was left abandoned across the road.
The incident happened near the busy Clapham Common station, with one witness revealing that she was nearly struck by the motorbike as it careered onto the pavement as she got off at Clapham Common Tube station.
Sian Cole told The Independent: “It was very scary due to it being rush hour and there were so many people present at the scene. I was walking and the motorbike just crashed right in front of me.”
Everything we know about the Clapham moped shooting
Residents in southwest London were horrified after a man opened fire near Clapham Common during rush hour.
Police are still searching for the gunman after three people were injured and taken to hospital as a result of the incident.
Two men being chased by the police fell off their moped before opening fire as police officers and ambulances swarmed the high street after of reports of a shooting outside The Belle Vue pub.
Dramatic photos of the scene show the moped in question lying across the pavement and a bullet hole through the window of the pub.
My colleague Athena Stavrou has more in this report:
Everything we know about the Clapham moped shooting
Dramatic photos of the scene show the moped in question lying across the pavement and a bullet hole through the window of the pub
Met Police statement in full
Here is the Met Police statement in full following yesterday’s events in Clapham:
“An investigation has been launched following a firearms incident in south London. At 16:55hrs on Friday, 1 March police were in pursuit of a moped being ridden by two people that had failed to stop in the Clapham area.
“A firearm, believed to be a shotgun, was discharged from the moped in the vicinity of Clapham Common South Side. Two people sustained shotgun pellet injuries. A third person was injured by the moped. The suspects fled the scene on foot. A firearm was recovered from the scene.
“London Ambulance Service paramedics have taken the injured people to hospital. While we await formal assessments, at this stage we don’t believe any of those injured to be in a life-threatening condition.
“A crime scene is in place and urgent enquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests at this stage. Firearms officers are searching the area.”
Senior Met Commander thanks officers risking harm to track down suspects
A senior Metropolitan Police commander has given his thoughts to those injured in last night’s shooting and thanked fellow officers who are seeking to arrest the suspects.
Video report: Three injured after gunman opens fire outside pub
Three injured after shots fired by moped rider being chased by police
Full report:
Three injured in Clapham after shots fired by moped rider being chased by police
Two suffer gunshot wounds and a third injured after being hit by moped, police say
In pictures: Police hunt for suspects after dark
MP hopes wounded make swift recovery
The MP for Clapham said she was praying the wounded would make a swift recovery.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy wrote on social media that police don’t believe the injuries are life-threatening.
“Praying that this is the case and all three make a swift recovery,” she wrote, adding a reference for anyone with information to give.
Police forensics search under way
Forensics officers were working in and around The Belle Vue pub after a gun was found at the scene.
Air ambulance called
An air ambulance was sent to Clapham to help the injured when crews were called around 5pm on Friday.
London Ambulance Service said: “We sent a number of resources including ambulance crews, operational managers, advanced paramedics and London’s air ambulance.
“We treated three people at the scene, and took two to a London major trauma centre and one to hospital.”