Teenager shot dead in east London

A murder inquiry was under way today after a teenager was shot dead, police said.

Officers were called to Chesterton Road, Plaistow, east London at about 3.20am after reports of two teenagers suffering gunshot wounds.

The victim, believed to be 16, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second teenager, believed to be 15, was taken to an east London hospital where his condition is understood to be critical, Scotland Yard said.

No arrests have yet been made.

Next of kin have been informed, though the teenager has not yet been formally identified.

A post-mortem is expected to take place shortly, police said.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Trident unit, which tackles gun related crime within the black community, are investigating the death.