ILFORD (Essex): An investigation is ongoing after two males were fatally shot, and a third left critically injured, following an incident in Ilford. According to Met police, the police were called by LAS at 00:16hrs on Tuesday, 25 October to Henley Road, Ilford, following reports of a fight in progress and shots fired.
Armed officers were among those responding. At the scene officers found three males with gunshot injuries.
One of the victims, aged in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another of the victims died a short time later. Police believe they know the identity of the victim in his 20s. Work to confirm the identity of the other man is ongoing. Officers are working to inform their next of kin.
The third victim, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. At this early stage there have been no arrests. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
Crime scenes and road closures are in place. Any witnesses or those with information, video or images that could assist police, should call 101 or tweet @MetCC ref CAD 99/25 Oct.
According to BBC report, one local man who said he had called the police during the “commotion”, described seeing multiple men wearing balaclavas. No arrests have been made. Forensic officers from the Met Police are working at a house in the street.
The local man who said he had called 999, who did not want to be identified, told the BBC he had also given first aid to one of the shot men, who still had a bullet lodged in his abdomen, as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.
Shamima Ahmed, who has lived in the street for two years, told BBC London: “I heard screams in the beginning. I didn’t bother much because it happens every day around here.
“Then it went worse and I could see the police running. The whole area had been cordoned off,” she added.
People who live and work in this part of Ilford have expressed dismay and shock at a shooting taking place in a residential area. Several businesses said they were used to drug problems and violence but were fearful that this had now escalated to include the use of guns.
People living on Henley Road told me that they initially thought the gunshots overnight were fireworks as many locals had been celebrating Diwali. There is still a large police cordon in place around Henley Road while forensic teams work outside the property.