A cordon was placed in front of the church of Saint Aloysius
Police have released details of a car they want to trace after a seven-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries in a drive-by shooting at a London church.
A 12-year-old girl and four women were also injured at St Aloysius Church in Euston when shots were fired from a moving vehicle on Saturday afternoon.
Police said Sunday they are seeking information about the black Toyota.
The seven-year-old is in a stable condition, but his life is in danger.
The suspects opened fire with a shotgun during a memorial service attended by hundreds of people at a Roman Catholic church on Phoenix Road around 13:30 GMT.
The Met Police said officers are appealing for information about the black Toyota
Supp Jack Rowlands said officers “found multiple people with injuries caused by shotgun pellets.”
“Four women aged 21, 41, 48 and 54 have been taken to central London hospitals. Fortunately, their injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening,” he said.
“A 48-year-old woman suffered life-changing injuries.
“Two children were also injured. A 12-year-old girl suffered a leg injury. She was treated in hospital before being released yesterday afternoon. She is expected to make a full recovery.
“A seven-year-old girl was seriously injured and is in a stable condition in the hospital, but her life is in danger, and our thoughts are with her and her family.
“We believe the suspects fired the shotgun from a moving vehicle, which was a black Toyota C-HR, possibly a 2019 model or similar.”
A memorial service was held for Sara Sanchez and her mother
Father Jeremy Trood, who led the memorial service, said it was for 20-year-old Sara Sanchez, who died of leukemia in November and her mother, who died the same month.
He said the mass, attended by more than 300 people, had just finished and people were leaving when he heard a “huge bang”.
“I heard a very strange, long and sustained noise,” Father Trood told BBC London.
“The pigeons were supposed to be released at the end of the service and I think people came out to see that.
“I remember the screams and shouts, the people who were leaving the church were all coming back.
“There was confusion as people moved away from the windows and doors.
“I’ve been here nine years and I’ve never experienced anything like this … it’s very shocking.”
Police have shared a picture of the Toyota model they are looking for
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, described the shooting as “deeply shocking” and said he was in close contact with detectives to determine what happened.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tweeted that she was “deeply concerned by the shocking shooting”.
There is a police cordon in front of the church
Supt Rowlands appealed for anyone with information about the “shocking incident” to contact police immediately.
“People came here to attend a funeral, to be with friends and loved ones and to grieve together,” he said.
“Instead, they were the victims of a senseless act of violence.”
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