Roman Road, Tower Hamlets
(Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)A teenage boy was rushed to hospital after being shot in the back and legs moments after machete-wielding gangs clashed on the streets of east London.
The 17-year-old boy was found by police suffering multiple gunshot wounds in St Stephens Road, Bow at 11pm on Sunday.
It came minutes after officers were called to Old Ford Road, towards Roman Road in Bow to reports of youths “armed with machetes” and the sound of a gun being fired.
Police arrived to a second call where they found the teenager with a gunshot wound to his back and legs.
He was treated at the scene by police and paramedics and was taken to hospital.
His injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing.
Crime scenes are in place, while the incident is being investigated by police.
The shooting prompted police crackdown on the area with Scotland Yard extending the use of the extra search powers until 7am on Monday.
Inspector Matt Williams said: “I have further concerns that a knife or other weapon may be used in the near future to inflict serious injuries upon others and it is my intention is to interrupt this trend of knife crime by use of targeted stop and search under powers permitted in Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
“My aim is to prevent further offences and save lives from future knife enabled attacks, disrupt and prevent these offences and protect the public by use of the S.60 authorization.
“I have also been granted additional resources this evening to protect the residents of Tower Hamlets and provide reassurance.”
