A man has died and two people were injured after a shooting in a residential area of south-east London, while another man died in a separate knife attack a few miles away.
Police appealed for witnesses to come forward after what was described as a “senseless act of violence” in the area of Wells Park Road, Sydenham.
Emergency services who arrived shortly after 10.10am on Sunday found a man with gunshot injuries, who died at the scene. A woman with gunshot wounds to her legs was taken to hospital where her condition is not life-threatening.
A third person attended hospital with what are believed to be gunshot injuries, according to the Metropolitan police.
Cmdr Peter Stevens of the Met said: “I know people will be shocked by this senseless act of violence, all the more so on a Sunday morning in a residential area. Officers will also be patrolling the area. I urge anyone with information to speak with those officers.”
No arrests had been made by Sunday afternoon and police were trying to establish the victim’s identity and contact his family.
Another man died in an apparently unconnected incident in south London on Sunday morning at a busy weekend market.
A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene after police were called at about 10.40am to reports of a number of people being stabbed in East Street, Walworth. Three were found with injuries and one died at the scene. A man and a woman were taken to hospital.
Images showed police and emergency workers tending to someone on the ground between stalls at the market, which opens between 8am and 4pm at the weekends.
A shop worker said the alleged knife attacker was challenged by market traders who “put him down” and then waited for police to arrive.
Wasim Hussain, who runs a shop near East Street Market, Walworth, told the PA news agency: “They just put him down, and they waited for the police. It was the general public - they work in the market, most of them.”
A father said he worried for the safety of his children after witnessing the aftermath of the stabbings. Siraj, 46, who lives locally and did not wish to give his surname, was walking through the market when he saw police cars and ambulances going past.
He followed them and found two injured people lying on the ground. “It was terrifying,” he told the PA news agency, adding he felt lucky the victims were not him or his children. He said the area had “always been safe” but now he was worried. “I feel unsafe to send my kids to school now,” he added.
Stevens said: “Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family.”
The incident is not being treated as terrorism and no one else is being sought by police.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said on X on Sunday: “Violent crime devastates our communities and must be tackled in all its forms. As mayor, I’m supporting our police to bear down on violence, while addressing its root causes through prevention.”
Anyone with information has been asked to call police on 101 or message via X on MetCC, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
