LONDON – British police were last night hunting three youths for shooting a five-year-old girl and a shopkeeper.
The child, believed to be London’s youngest gun crime victim, is now fighting for her life in hospital after being shot in the chest.
The 35-year-old shopkeeper was shot in the head.
The two bystanders were injured while inside Stockwell Food and Wine Shop in south London at 9.15pm yesterday.
They were hit as two youths cowered in the south London store after being chased by three other youths on bicycles.
As the pair hid inside, the gunman stopped at the door and opened fire indiscriminately.
Police are not sure how many bullets were fired.
The three attackers, who a witness said were aged between 14 and 17, fled as their intended targets chased them on foot from the Stockwell Road shop along Broomgrove Road and into Stockwell Park Estate.
The victims, who police said were not related, were rushed to hospital and were reported to be in a critical condition last night.
The girl was visiting relatives when the attackers struck.
Local councillor Peter Robbins said: “There is a fairly well-known problem with gangs and guns in Lambeth. It is something that the council and the police are working together incredibly hard to solve.
“Obviously, there is always more you can do and incidents like this really bring that home.” – (PA)