A seven-year-old girl is fighting for life after she was gunned down in a drive-by shooting at a church funeral.
Four women and a girl, 12, were also blasted when a gunman opened fire in broad daylight from a car near Euston station, central London, in a street packed with shoppers, The Sun reports.
A witness said a suspect was chased by armed cops into nearby Euston station in central London but no arrests have been made.
Mourners had gathered outside St Aloysius Roman Catholic Church after the funeral service to watch the release of doves — traditionally symbolising peace and love.
But they dashed back in screaming when shots were fired from a passing car just before 1.30pm.
Reverend Jeremy Trood, who conducted the funeral service, told The Sun on Sunday: “There must’ve been around 350 mourners and as they were leaving there was this enormous bang outside and they all started rushing back inside screaming.
“There was one lady lying on the ground who appeared to be badly injured.”
One mourner, Jaouida Ifghallal, said: “It was a lovely service. When the service finished, we were outside to see the flying of doves.
“A black car came and started to shoot bullets. It was chaotic.”
Another witness who took refuge in the church added: “It was horrible. No one knew if it was a bomb or gunman. We were looking for places to hide. We all just snuggled into corners where we could.”
The seven-year-old was last night being treated for life-threatening injuries. Another girl, 12, was also wounded, along with four women aged 21, 41, 48, and 54.
They were understood to have been among those paying respects to a mum and daughter who died within a month of each other.
Last night Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “I am deeply concerned by the shocking shooting incident in Euston this afternoon, which has sadly involved a seven-year-old girl and several women.
“My thoughts are with them and their families.
“The Met Police have my full support to conduct a thorough investigation and catch those responsible for this terrible crime.”
Some 12 police cars plus six ambulances and an air ambulance rushed to the area after the attack.
The Met confirmed all six victims were shot.
Injuries to the women were not life-threatening, but police said the 48-year-old’s were potentially life-changing. The 12-year-old was taken to hospital with a minor leg injury, and was later discharged.
Superintendent Ed Wells said: “Any shooting incident is unacceptable, but for multiple people, including two children, to be injured in a shooting in the middle of a Saturday afternoon is shocking.
“Our thoughts are with all the victims, but in particular with the seven-year-old girl who is in a life-threatening condition and with her family.
“An investigation into this dreadful attack is already well under way involving local officers and specialist detectives. I can assure the communities of Camden and beyond that we will do everything we possibly can to identify and bring to justice those who were responsible.
“Local residents can expect to see an increased visible police presence in the area through the weekend and into the days ahead as we progress this investigation.
“I would urge anyone with information to come forward, either to the police or anonymously, to Crimestoppers.”
A hunt is under way for the culprits, who were in a blacked-out car.
The Met said “initial inquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle”.
Former Met cop Ali Hassan Ali, 40, claimed that a balaclava-wearing youth ran off and was chased by police.
The funeral was a celebration of the lives of Colombian Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter Sara Sanchez, 20, who had leukaemia.
Fresia suffered a pulmonary embolism which caused her to fatally collapse in front of Sara after getting off a flight at Heathrow in November.
No arrests have yet been made over yesterday’s attack, which happened in Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s constituency.
He said he was “deeply shocked” and urged anyone with information to come forward.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: “This is a deeply distressing incident. My thoughts are with those who were injured and their families.”
But Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, an ex-Tory minister and former deputy mayor for policing in the capital, slammed the Labour mayor.
He said: “London used to be one of the safest global cities but under Sadiq Khan our capital has become like Dodge City.
“Why are the guns back on the streets in such large numbers?”
The incident follows the murders of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, last year in Liverpool and beautician Elle Edwards, 26, in a pub in Wallasey, Merseyside, on Christmas Eve.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about what took place should call 101, giving the reference 3357/14JAN.
Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
This story originally appeared on The Sun and reproduced with permission
Originally published as Brutal drive-by shooting at funeral in London
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