Man Arrested After Eight-Year-Old Girl Shot in Car.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a shocking double shooting in Ladbroke Grove, London, which left an eight-year-old girl and her father seriously injured.
The incident occurred on Southern Row at approximately 17:30 GMT on Sunday. The victims, the young girl and her 34-year-old father, were inside their car when they were attacked. Both sustained serious gunshot wounds and were rushed to the hospital, where they remain in a serious but stable condition. According to the Metropolitan Police, the girl is undergoing surgery, while her father has injuries that could be life-changing.
The girl’s two-year-old sibling and their mother, aged 32, were also in the car during the attack but miraculously escaped unharmed. Superintendent Owen Renowden expressed gratitude to members of the public who assisted the injured victims immediately after the shooting.
Renowden described the ongoing investigation as “progressing at pace” and urged anyone with information about the incident, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward.
A local resident who witnessed the shooting shared chilling details about the event. She recounted seeing a man firing multiple times into the car at close range.
She explained that she had been coming out of the exit to her mother’s block of flats when she saw a man firing multiple times into the car at close range, as if he were standing to open a door. She described being in complete shock and running back upstairs, terrified. Later, she heard screaming and saw people rushing to call the police.
She also reflected on the deteriorating safety in the neighborhood, stating that in recent years, the area has become increasingly unsafe for its residents.
The London Ambulance Service responded swiftly, arriving within six minutes. Medical professionals treated the victims on-site before transporting them to a major trauma center as a priority.
Joe Powell, the Member of Parliament for Kensington and Bayswater, expressed outrage over the violence, calling it a senseless act that has no place on the streets. Powell acknowledged the rising concerns among residents following this and other recent incidents in the neighborhood.
He expressed his shock and dismay over the shooting, emphasizing that such acts of violence must be prevented and those responsible brought to justice. He urged collective efforts to ensure safer streets for everyone.
The area has seen similar incidents in recent months, intensifying concerns about public safety. In July, just two streets away from Sunday’s shooting, 15-year-old Rene Graham was fatally shot during a pre-carnival event. The recurring violence has left local residents anxious about the security of their community.
Scotland Yard confirmed that inquiries into the incident are ongoing. The 22-year-old man arrested remains in custody as investigators work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Forensic officers have been present at the scene, and a police cordon remains in place as evidence collection continues.
The Metropolitan Police have urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in bringing those responsible to justice.
This devastating incident underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of violence and improve community safety in Ladbroke Grove and beyond.
Source: BBC.
