Ladbroke Grove shooting: Man arrested after shooting ‘directly at car’ containing 8-year-old girl and 2-year-old child | UK News

A 22-year-old man has been arrested after an eight-year-old girl and a man were seriously injured in a shooting in west London.

The incident, which took place on Southern Row in Ladbroke Grove, involved several people in a vehicle, including a two-year-old child, just after 5.30pm on Sunday.

The eight-year-old girl is in a serious but stable condition and is undergoing surgery. The 34-year-old man is also in serious but stable condition with potentially life-changing injuries.

The 32-year-old woman in the vehicle was taken to hospital as a precaution, but no one was injured. The two-year-old child escaped unharmed.

Police arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack and appealed to the public for more information.

A witness described how the victims were targeted while sitting in the vehicle. He said a man was “shooting directly at the car.”

Sharon, who did not want to give his surname, told the PA news agency: “They were shooting directly, as if they were shooting directly at the door, at close range, as if you were stopping to open a door.

“I was in total shock and I ran up the stairs because I was really scared. Then I looked and then I heard screaming and then people came out to call the police.”

Another witness, a 64-year-old woman, told Metro that the girl’s mother was screaming.

“I heard the gunshots and then I heard a woman screaming, ‘Baby, my baby got shot’… it makes me sick to think about it now,” they said.

“Four or five shots were fired, screams were heard, it was terrible. A neighbor went out with a quilt to cover the injured.”

Inspector Owen Renowden updated reporters at a press conference near the scene.

“The investigation is being carried out by Specialist Crime Command detectives to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Although the investigation is progressing rapidly, I would like to appeal today to anyone with information that could help come forward,” he added.

There is a police cordon at the northwest end of Southern Row.

One resident said he had previously witnessed “three shootings” in the area.

Muraad Haab, who did not see the attack on Sunday, said, “I saw three armed attacks. Someone who shot a gun before hit my window.”

Another resident, Lloyd Markham, 60, said: “I’ve lived here for about 25 years and it seems like a really safe place to live, but now you’re starting to hear about all these stabbings and shootings.

“It’s so sad. Why shoot a gun when there are kids around? How could you do that to someone?”

Local MP Joe Powell told X: “These senseless acts of violence have no place on our streets.

“I know that residents of the local community will rightfully be concerned about their safety after several recent incidents in the neighbourhood.

The Labor politician, who represents Kensington and Bayswater, added: “We must work together to better prevent these terrible crimes from happening and hold those responsible to account.”

London Ambulance Service said in a statement: “The first of our team arrived within six minutes.

“Our teams treated two patients at the scene before transporting them to a major trauma center in London.”