Newham shooting: can you help?

Detective Inspector Glenn Butler said: “I need to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Plaistow area on Thursday night, or from anyone who has information about the shooting. Shootings on the streets of London are rare, and the use of automatic weapons even more so. It is therefore all the more important that anyone with information calls me as soon as possible.”

DI Butler was referring to an incident which took place just before midnight last Thursday in Beatrice Close, Plaistow, E13. It was 23.17hrs when police and the Ambulance Service were called to the area, where they found a man had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital, where his condition was described as “critical”.

Police later revealed that he had been shot with an automatic weapon. This is very worrying as this rare sighting of an automatic weapon on London’s streets marks an unwelcome escalation in the level of weapons being used. Automatic weapons are more likely to cause serious injury in the intended victim of a shooting and are more likely to injure innocent passers by. In this incident, initial reports suggest that over a dozen shots were fired from the weapon.

Detectives believe two men were involved in the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

•Anyone with information should call Operation Trident officers via 101. To remain anonymous call Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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