Gunman at large after shotgun fired from moped and three rushed to hospital

01 March 2024 , 18:29

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Three people have been injured after a gun-wielding moped driver opened fire in Clapham, south London, before fleeing the scene.

A suspect fired what was believed to be a shotgun while riding a moped during a police chase on Clapham High Street around 16:55, Metropolitan Police have confirmed. Two people sustained shotgun pellet injuries and a third person was injured by the moped.

Are you at the scene? Did you see what happened? If so, email [email protected].

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A large bullet hole at the Belle Vue Pub (PA)

A picture posted on social media appears to show a sawn-off shotgun discarded in the street with a large police presence surrounding. Eyewitnesses have described hearing a loud bang and others have claimed they saw at least one female being shot in the leg.

Henry, who was in the Belle Vue pub at the time of the incident, said his friends were "absolutely terrified" when they heard a "really loud bang." He continued: "It was two guys on a moped. And then they shot through into the pub. I was two tables away from the window. So luckily, I didn't get shot in the head."

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The London Ambulance Service (LAS) said two people were rushed to a major trauma centre, while a third was taken to hospital following the incident. A moped could be seen left on the pavement on Clapham Common South Side, while forensics were working in and around The Belle Vue pub.

A forensic officer holding the stock of a shotgun at the scene of the shooting in Clapham (PA)

In a video posted on TikTok a police officer is heard telling members of the public to move away from the scene shouting: "go that way, that way, that way, there’s a shotgun here." A local barber said he was left "shocked" after hearing shooting close to his shop near Clapham Common. The man, who gave his name as Kaka, 34, who works in Chop Barbers, told PA: "I was in the shop just before 5 and I heard a gunshot up the road. We were all shocked because it was so close, the police were everywhere afterwards."

One eyewitness on X, formerly Twitter, said she saw “two guys” fall off a motorbike near the tube station and Sainsburys after being chased. The Met Police do not believe any of those injured to be in a life-threatening condition. Urgent enquiries are ongoing to trace the moped.

An abandoned moped at the scene (PA)

Henry told MyLondon: "It was like a shotgun. Really loud. I thought it might have been a bomb. Two women got shot. One got in the leg." Other reports on X suggest a single female was shot.

Robert Stu, 48, saw a pedestrian hit by a moped at a road crossing. He told the Telegraph: "I heard a loud rev and saw a moped travelling down the road. A man was crossing the road at the crossing and the moped smashed into him It him straight in his leg and it looked like it broke his leg or shin. But the guy had to get up and limp off the road because traffic was coming."

Incident in Clapham Common on Friday night (@TheJakeWarren)

Douglas De Souza, owner of Headquarterz hairdressers on Clapham High Street saw the ordeal from his shop. He told the MailOnline: "They were being chased by the police and they dropped the bike and ran. The police were chasing them and they came up behind them and I just heard the shots. They dropped the gun after. I have my doubts about it being a shotgun because it sounded like a fake gun but then they ran away down Clapham Park Road.

"There were seven or eight people in my shop at the time. We are within the cordon - we haven't left the shop yet. We are waiting for the police and they are outside taking pictures of the evidence. The gun was very small. Its been bagged up now. The shots were quick in succession - like bang bang."

(PA)

The A3 Clapham High Street has been sealed off in both directions between the B224 and the A24 Clapham Common Southside. The incident took place just half a mile away from Lessar Avenue, where Abdul Ezedi doused a woman and her two children with a chemical substance in January. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham, said: "Very concerned to hear reports of a shooting in Clapham Common this evening. I will share further updates when I get them."

(PA)

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said to the Mirror: "We were called today (Friday 1) at 4.59pm to reports of an incident in Clapham Common South Side. 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."

Anyone who saw the moped, or captured the incident on dash cam, should call 101 ref CAD 5008/1 Mar.