A 22-year-old man has been arrested after an eight-year-old girl was seriously wounded when multiple shots were fired into a car in west London.
The child was in the vehicle with her 34-year-old father, who was also seriously injured, a two-year-old sibling and her mother, 32, both of whom escaped physical injury.
The Metropolitan police said the man was arrested shortly after the shooting on suspicion of attempted murder.
Local people rushed to help those injured, including one bringing a duvet from their home and placing it over the child and her father as they waited for paramedics. The shooting happened at about 5.30pm on Sunday in Southern Row, Ladbroke Grove.
Police said the eight-year-old girl was expected to live and underwent surgery after being shot. Her father had “life-changing injuries” and was also expected to survive.
A witness who was in the area to visit her mother told PA Media: “ I was literally coming out of the exit to my mum’s block of flats and as I was going out I saw a guy shooting. I was completely in shock and I just ran back up the stairs because I was really scared. Then I looked and I heard screaming afterwards, and then people coming out to call the police.”
Sharon, who did not wish to give her surname, said: “I’ve noticed in the last several years it has become a lot more unsafe for the people here. There were [multiple] shots, there was screaming, it’s horrible. A neighbour went out with a duvet to cover the injured.”
Supt Owen Renowden said: “I recognise that any shooting has a traumatic impact on the local community and I have already heard today how last night’s incident in particular has affected local people. There will be a continued presence from our neighbourhood policing teams over the coming days and we are working closely with our partners to increase the presence of all services in the area.”
One witness told Metro: “I heard shots and then a woman shouting ‘my baby, my baby’s been shot.’”
A woman living near the scene, who did not want to be named, said she was scared after the shooting, and had first thought the gunshots were fireworks.
The local MP Joe Powell said several residents had been left in fear by a series of violent incidents. In a statement on X, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater said: “These senseless acts of violence have no place on our streets. I know residents in the local community will be rightly concerned for their safety after several recent incidents in the neighbourhood.”
Police appealed for witnesses to come forward, saying they could contact police on 101, giving the reference CAD5238/24NOV, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
