Man remanded over shop shooting

A man was remanded in custody today charged with two counts of attempted murder following the shooting of five-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran and a 35-year-old man.

Anthony McCalla, 19, of Oakdale Road, Streatham, will appear next at the Old Bailey on June 10.

He appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court charged with shooting the little girl and bystander Roshan Selvakumar at a shop in Stockwell, south London.

McCalla, wearing a brown and white striped top and blue jeans, listened intently during the 15-minute hearing and spoke to give his name, address and date of birth.

District Judge Sue Green refused an application for bail.

Police have also arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shootings.

Relatives are maintaining vigils at Thusha's hospital bedside while detectives build up a "continuity trail" of the attackers' movements.

Police said the child remained in a "critical but stable" condition.

Meanwhile, beat police are beefing up their presence around Stockwell Food and Wine store as sources said up to 50 gangs were operating in the south London area.

Close family friend Velluppillai Navaratnam, 49, from Croydon, south London, said it was a "very difficult time" for Thusha's relatives.

Thusha - believed to be London's youngest gun crime victim - was hit in the chest and Mr Selvakumar suffered a head wound as two black youths cowered in the store after being chased by three other black youths on bicycles.

Police said Mr Selvakumar's condition was stable.

Detectives revealed Thusha's 12-year-old brother, three-year-old sister and mother had been in the shop but were unhurt during the shooting.

The store's owners are the children's aunt and uncle.

Crimestoppers is offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to the gun attackers' capture.