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.”
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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.
Manhunt continues for ‘reckless’ suspects
A manhunt continues into the two suspects were were riding on the back of a moped, leading to a police chase which saw a shotgun discharged.
DCI Gemma Alger, Specialist Crime, 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.
“The suspects fled the scene on foot. Crime scenes remain in place in St Alphonsus Road as forensic searches are ongoing at premises where the suspects made off through gardens.
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.”
Pictures from the scene
Police say they will be ‘relentless’ in search for suspects
DCI Gemma Alger, Specialist Crime, 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.
“The suspects fled the scene on foot. Crime scenes remain in place in St Alphonsus Road as forensic searches are ongoing at premises where the suspects made off through gardens.
“The shotgun was recovered from the scene and this will also be subject to forensic analysis.
“I want to hear from anyone with information about the incident and any witnesses yet to speak with police. CCTV footage will form part of our investigation, and of course I also want to hear from anyone who has dashcam footage that may assist the investigation.
‘’Local Officers will be in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.’’
Shotgun fired by mistake as it hit to the ground, police say
The shotgun which injured two people in Clapham yesterday is believed to have discharged by accident as it was dropped by one of the suspects in a police chase as they fled on foot, after their moped crashed, Scotland Yard has said.
The Met has informed the police watchog about the incident, in which three people were injured, two with shotgun pellet wounds.
The force said: “At 16:55hrs on Friday, 1 March, police were in pursuit of a moped being ridden by two people who had failed to stop in the Clapham area. In the course of this pursuit the moped collided with a member of the public and crashed a short while later. The pedestrian – a 27-year-old man – was taken to hospital for treatment.
“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.
“Two women in the street, aged 27 and 36 years, sustained shotgun pellet injuries. They were not deliberately targeted. They were also taken to hospital by ambulance. All three victims have now been released from hospital.
“Since the moped had been pursued by police, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is aware of the incident and the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed. There have been no arrests at this stage.”
Suspects still at large and identities unknown after three injured
Urgent enquiries are still ongoing to identify the suspects involved in the firearms incident in Clapham yesterday evening, the Metropolitan Police has said in a new update.
All three injured people have now left hospital and urgent enquiries are ongoing to identify the suspects whose reckless actions led to the discharge of the weapon, Scotland Yard said.
Full report: Three injured in Clapham after shots fired by moped rider being chased by police
Three people have been injured after shots were fired by a moped rider who was being chased by police in south London.
Officers had been pursuing the moped after it failed to stop in the Clapham area just before 5pm on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force added that a firearm, believed to be a shotgun, was discharged from the moped near The Belle Vue pub in Clapham Common.
Two people suffered shotgun pellet injuries, while a third was injured by the moped. The suspects then fled the scene and officers are attempting to trace the moped.
My colleague Barney Davis has the full report here:
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
