Forensics teams at the scene in west London last night (Picture: UKNIP)
An eight-year-old girl was ‘caught in the crossfire’ after a shooting in west London last night, witnesses have said.
Police and emergency services were called to Southern Row, area between Ladbroke Grove and Maida Vale yesterday afternoon.
Witnesses heard a gunman blast four shots and a woman shouting ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot’.
A witness described how a gunman fire into a parked car at point blank range in the ‘attempted hit.’
The woman, who gave her name as Sharon, told Metro: ‘I came out and saw a man pointing a gun into a car. I saw flashes from the gun.
‘He was right close to the driver side window.’
An eight-year-old girl was injured in the shooting (Picture: LNP)
Officers have made an appeal for witnesses this morning(Picture: Ben Cawthra/LNP)
Forensics teams at the scene of the reported shooting in west London last night (Picture: UKNIP)
She said the gun was a pistol.
She continued: “It was an intended targeted a attack it liked like. A woman got out of the car and was carrying a child there was screaming. I ran inside my block it was terrifying.’
A 34-year-old man and a schoolgirl, were injured. A 32-year-old woman was also taken to hospital as a precaution but was not injured.
Another witness, 64, told Metro: ‘I heard shots, and then a woman shouting: ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot … it makes me sick to think about it now.
Latest London news
Map reveals list of all new London Overground line names and colours
London Underground severe delays with rest of UK facing snow travel chaos
Squatters in major film studio’s London headquarters thrown out after eight months
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk’s London news hub.
‘There were four or five shots, there was screaming it’s horrible. A neighbour went out with a duvet to cover the injured.
Father of five Ali Hussien, 52, an Uber driver told Metro: ‘I heard four or five bangs I thought it was fireworks.
‘There were suddenly police everywhere. Now I know it was a shooting it’s very scary.
‘Especially as I have children. I have a daughter, 9, so I fear for my children. The police do their best but there is a lot of crime.’
Another witness said: ‘There were about five loud bangs.’
Police were searching the area for the gunman after a child was said to have been caught in the crossfire of the attack (Picture: UKNIP)
A retail worker, 34, said: ‘I heard boom, boom, boom, boom.
‘There was a gap between the shots then I heard a scream, it sounded like from a child.
‘It was a desperate cry, and it was a very scary. It could only have been.’
A neighbour spoke of his shock that the ‘down to earth family’ had been targeted.
The 32 year old said: ‘They are a nice down to earth family. There is the mum, dad and four children. There have two bits and two girls I think.
‘They seem nice neighbours, I spoke to the bloke a few times. They have lived here for a king time.
‘The only strange thing is that the dad went missing for a few months recently, didn’t see him at all. I saw their car with the windows shot out. It’s so shocking.’
One man told Metro: ‘A man and a child were in a car and and it looks like it was a targeted attack.
‘I think they were trying to get the man and the boy was caught up in it all.
‘Neighbours came out to try and help them both.’
Witnesses said the man and the child had been sat in a car when the attack happened (Picture: UKNIP)
One picture, taken near to West Row in Ladbroke Grove, shows a road cordoned off with at least six emergency vehicles in the area.
Other pictures show forensics teams carrying out searches along the road.
Superintendent Owen Renowden, in charge of policing for Kensington and Chelsea, said: ‘This is an appalling incident that has left two people seriously injured, including a young girl who thankfully is in a stable condition this morning.
‘I am appealing to the public who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting.
‘Did you hear any gunshots around 17:30hrs yesterday evening? Did you see anyone fleeing from the area? We are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information surrounding this incident. Your information matters, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.’
‘We await an update on the condition of the man. We also await an update on the girl, but she does not have life-threatening injuries.’
Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said:’ We are all shocked to hear of this mindless violence and my thoughts are with the victims and their families.
‘It is beyond belief that a child has been caught in the crossfire of violence on the streets of London once again.
‘It has never been more urgent for the Mayor of London to act fast and lay out clear plans with the police to tackle gun crime and stop this horror.
‘I’m grateful for the swift response of the emergency services yesterday and the increased police presence in the area to reassure residents.’