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A manhunt is underway to find the gunmen responsible for a devastating mass shooting which left a seven-year-old girl fighting for her life and five others injured in north London.
The victims were shot as they exited a funeral service for British-Colombian cancer victim Sara Sanchez, 20, and her mother Fresia Calderon, 50, outside St Aloysius church on Phoenix Road opposite Euston railway station about 1.30pm on Saturday.
A police source told The Mail on Sunday a man jumped out of the car and started firing into the crowd as white doves – symbols of peace – were released.
It is believed the gunman may have been targeting a guest at the funeral as part of a revenge attack.
‘People are saying the intended target of the shooting was a man who attended the service,’ one woman from the funeral said last night. ‘There’s speculation that it was some sort of revenge attack.’
Police forensic officers remain on the scene this evening amid an ongoing investigation
Single mum Fresia Calderon and her daughter Sara Sanchez died within a month of each other
Met Police confirmed this evening six people in total were injured in the attack; four women aged 21, 41, 48 and 54, along with two children aged 12 and seven.
It marks one of the worst mass shootings in London for decades.
The seven-year-old girl ‘remains in hospital in a life threatening condition’ after she was rushed to a hospital with a major trauma centre as a priority.
Horrified witnesses revealed they had to run for cover as a black car pulled up and ‘started shooting bullets’ out of nowhere into the crowd, who had gathered to celebrate the lives of the mother-daughter duo, who died within a month of each other in November.
One witness claimed to The Sun a suspect appeared to be chased into nearby Euston station.
No arrests have been made and Met Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward and assist with the investigation.
The drive-by shooting happened on Phoenix Road in NW1, London
Police forensic officers remain on the scene this evening amid an ongoing investigation
A 12-year-old girl was discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for a minor leg injury sustained in the incident.
The adult victims were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, though police said the 48-year-old suffered potentially ‘life-changing’ trauma.
Witnesses told MyLondon they were fired upon as they went outside to watch the flying of doves after the service. They ran for cover as a black car pulled up, seemingly out of nowhere, and ‘started shooting bullets’.
‘It was chaos. It was horrible. No one knew if it was a bomb or gunman,’ one said.
‘We were looking for places to hide. We all just snuggled into corners where we could. We left after about 10 minutes, I did not dare [leave before]. It was not nice.’
It is not yet clear how the victims knew the mother and daughter duo whose funerals they were attending.
Police are pictured at the scene of a shooting outside a funeral on Phoenix Road, next to Euston railway station
Police responded to reports shots were fired from a moving vehicle, during a funeral at St Aloysius
Fresia Calderon (pictured) died after suffering a pulmonary embolism after she arrived to Heathrow from Colombia on November 5
Fresia Calderon died after suffering a pulmonary embolism after she arrived to Heathrow from Colombia on November 5.
Her daughter Sara Sanchez, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia three years ago, succumbed 25 days later after ‘giving up all hope’, according to a family member.
Sara was diagnosed with leukaemia in May 2020 and after six months of chemotherapy experienced two years in remission. She relapsed in July 2021 and required a bone marrow transplant.
It was her mother who instilled hope that she would recover on days when she otherwise felt like giving up. So after Fresia’s sudden and unexpected death, relatives say she struggled to carry on.
The duo, along with Sara’s younger brother, had travelled to Colombia for a ‘final goodbye’ and were on their way back when Fresia collapsed in front of both children.
Father Jeremy Trood, who conducted the service at St Aloysius church, said: ‘I heard a big bang and police are in the church at moment. People who were leaving the church have rushed back in.’
He described the ceremony as a ‘Requiem Mass’ rather than a funeral.
‘They were very scared, people sheltered in the church until the police said they can leave but some of them were so scared they had to wait a while to get their confidence back up to go outside.
‘But I was in the church the whole time so I didn’t actually see what had happened.’
Pictures posted on Instagram last night from the funeral showed how a photograph of Fresia and Sara hugging each other had been placed by the altar during the service.
Although the service was for two members of London’s Colombian community, a mourner said fellow guests were from a wide variety of backgrounds, with ‘British Colombians’ a minority.
Mourners invited to the ‘celebration mass’ for the two women were asked to wear white.
Stephanie, who lives near the church, said her 11-year-old daughter had been walking home from a friend’s house and saw someone lying on the ground before the police arrived. She added that an emergency services helicopter had made an aborted landing in front of their home before flying off and eventually landing in a nearby school playground.
When emergency services arrived at the scene, they found the victims suffering bullet wounds on a small side street near Euston station.
Single mum Fresia Calderon and her daughter Sara Sanchez died within a month of each other
It was Sara’s mother who instilled hope that she would recover on days when she otherwise felt like giving up. So after Fresia’s (pictured) sudden and unexpected death, relatives say she struggled to carry on
The church remains closed as of Saturday evening, with detectives still on the scene as investigations continued into last night.
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.’
All four sustained gunshot wounds when unidentified perpetrators performed a drive-by shooting outside St Aloysius church (pictured) on Phoenix Road
The Met released a statement claiming initial enquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle which quickly fled the scene
The Met released a statement claiming initial enquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle which quickly fled the scene.
Officers initially said a seven-year-old and three women were hurt but later updated this as it emerged six people in total had sustained injuries.
‘There is a significant police presence in the area. An urgent investigation is underway and details of the incident are still emerging,’ the statement read.
‘At this early stage there have been no arrests.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We sent three ambulance crews, five paramedics in fast response cars, an advanced paramedic and two incident response officers to the scene.
‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. The first paramedic arrived in around five minutes.
‘We treated four people at the scene, one of whom was seriously injured and was taken to a major trauma centre, as a priority. The others were taken to hospital.’
It is not yet clear how the victims knew the mother and daughter duo whose funerals they were attending, or why the funeral service was targeted
The Met released a statement claiming initial enquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle which quickly fled the scene
Police cordons have been established in the area surrounding the church, and traffic is slow moving in the area
One resident of an estate across the road from the church, who did not want to give her name, said: ‘I heard the gunshots.
‘I was having a quiet day on my balcony and I heard this almighty bang and I thought this was not normal, and the next minute everyone was screaming and shouting.
‘We have a food bank there and everyone was running off. Neighbours came in and said there has been a shooting. What a terrible thing.’
Sue, 54, a resident of the block next to the church who preferred not to give her last name, said the shooting victims were ‘lucky to get an ambulance’ given the current crisis in the NHS.
She said: ‘I heard screaming going on but that is not unusual for around here. I heard shouting and I came out and saw the police and ambulances.
‘They must have caught the car on CCTV, round here it would got stuck in traffic.’
Police cordons have been established in the area surrounding the church, and traffic is slow moving.
Bus routes have been placed on diversion. Motorists travelling through the area have been warned of a significant police presence, and to expect delays.
Labour leader Keir Starmer issued a tribute to the victims on Twitter this evening, stating: ‘I am deeply shocked by the shooting in Euston and want to thank the emergency services for their response. My thoughts are with the victims.’
And London Mayor Sadiq Khan also spoke out about the ‘deeply distressing’ attacks.
Mr Khan said: ‘This is a deeply distressing incident and my thoughts are with those who were injured and their families.
‘A police investigation is now under way and I am in close contact with the Met Police to determine what happened.’
Home Secretary Suella Braverman also volunteered her support to police as the investigation continues.
‘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,’ she said.
‘The @metpoliceuk have my full support to conduct a thorough investigation and catch those responsible for this terrible crime.’
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.
Bus routes have been placed on diversion. Motorists travelling through the area have been warned of a significant police presence, and to expect delays
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