Man arrested after eight-year-old girl shot in Ladbroke Grove

BBC Two police officers stand behind police tape and in front of red-fronted newsagents — A police cordon remains in place on Southern Row in Ladbroke Grove

A 22-year-old man has been arrested after a double shooting into a car which left an eight-year-old girl and a man with serious injuries.

They were both taken to hospital following the shooting on Southern Row in Ladbroke Grove at about 17:30 GMT on Sunday, and remain in a serious but stable condition, the Metropolitan Police said.

The girl sustained “serious gunshot injuries” and is currently in surgery while the other victim, a man aged 34, has potentially life-changing injuries.

A two-year-old girl and a 32-year-old woman, who were also in the car, were “thankfully unharmed” Supt Owen Renowden told reporters.

He said: “I want to take this opportunity now to thank the members of public who came to the aid of those who were injured last night.”

He added detectives wanted to hear from anyone with information about what happened “no matter how insignificant”.

An eyewitness who was visiting her mother in the area said she saw a man shooting “multiple times” during the incident.

PA Media A uniformed police officer uses a mobile phone while walking past a cordon on part of the street. Several out-of-focus police officers stand in uniform on the right of the image — A crime scene remains in place

“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 into the car multiple times,” the woman said.

“He was firing directly, like at close range, as if you’re standing to open a door, they were shooting directly into it.

“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.”

She added: “I’ve noticed in the last several years, it has become a lot more unsafe for the people here.”

‘Senseless violence’

The London Ambulance Service said it arrived within six minutes and treated two patients at the scene before taking them to a major trauma centre as a priority.

Joe Powell, MP for Kensington and Bayswater, said he was “appalled by the shooting”.

He said: “These senseless acts of violence have no place on our streets.”

Scotland Yard said inquiries are ongoing and there have been no arrests so far

PA Media A police cordon at the scene on Southern Grove in Ladbroke Grove. A row of blue, silver and white cars can be seen on either side of the street which has five blue, red and white police cordons criss-crossing the road — Scotland Yard said inquiries are ongoing and there have been no arrests so far

“I know residents in the local community will be rightly concerned for their safety after several recent incidents in the neighbourhood,” Powell added.

“We must work together to better prevent these horrific crimes from happening, and hold those responsible to account.”

In August, 15-year-old Rene Graham was shot dead two streets away during a pre-carnival event.