Advertisement

Revealed: Surge in London gangland shootings as record 880 guns are seized in a year

Police at the scene of a shooting in Stratford on Sunday night: James Cleveland
Police at the scene of a shooting in Stratford on Sunday night: James Cleveland

The number of gangland shootings in London has surged as criminals used weapons to intimidate rivals and settle disputes.

New statistics reveal “lethal barrel firearms discharges” in the capital rose by nearly 13 per cent in 2017. Police also seized a record number of guns.

There were 350 shootings in the 12 months to the middle of January compared with 310 in the previous 12 months. At the same time police seized 880 guns in the capital last year, 100 more than the previous year.

The figures emerged as a 21-year-old man was fighting for his life today after being shot in the head in east London.

The victim was attacked in Romford Road, Stratford at 10.30pm yesterday in a suspected gangland shooting. He was taken to an east London hospital where his condition was described as critical.

A 21-year-old man was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries (James Cleveland)
A 21-year-old man was hospitalised with life-threatening injuries (James Cleveland)

Detectives say they are also witnessing an increase in the number of linked shootings — most involving gangs firing weapons at rivals or their property.

Scotland Yard has launched a specialist unit as part of its Trident gangs squad to investigate crimes involving the same weapon.

Last week three men were jailed after a forensics team linked them to a string of offences involving the same gun.

Richard Ojo, Myron Hyllam and Mamud Mansaray were responsible for four shootings in south London in 2016.

Police say criminals may be using the same weapon because they are finding it harder to obtain guns.

The specialist squad are now investigating a total of 23 linked shootings in London, most of them involving gangs firing guns in the street without injuries.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jim Stokley, head of the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command, said: “The majority of shootings occur at property rather than individuals.

“There are some linked series involving injuries but most are targeted against front doors and cars.”

He added: “We were starting to see a rise in the number of linked series of firearms discharges last year.”

He said: “This might be the same gang or the same individual using the same gun or one gun being hired out to different gangs or individuals.

“This can happen on a national basis so you can see the gun pop up in London then on Merseyside, though that is more rare.”

Most guns being used by criminals in London are handguns and shotguns, with handguns generally being smuggled into the UK from Eastern Europe or in some cases, being smuggled in from the US through the post.

Many shotguns recovered by police were originally legitimately held weapons that had been stolen in burglaries.

DCS Stokley said most of the linked series of shootings involved gangs.