Four wounded in south London drive-by shooting, one critically injured

LONDON: Four people were taken to hospital after a drive-by shooting interrupted a late-night barbecue in south London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Emergency services responded to reports of gunfire on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton in the early hours of Saturday. Police officers and paramedics reached the scene within minutes and found four people suffering from gunshot injuries.

All four were given treatment at the scene before being shifted to hospital, according to authorities. Police said a 25-year-old man was in a life-threatening condition. The other three victims, aged 21, 47 and 70, suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Authorities said the shooting is believed to have happened during or soon after a barbecue gathering in the area. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting, and an investigation was continuing.

Police described the attack as an act of "indiscriminate violence" and said efforts were under way to identify and locate those responsible. Detectives also stepped up patrols in the neighbourhood, saying they recognised the concern the incident had caused among local residents.

Witness accounts and police appeal

According to witness accounts cited in reports, the gunfire triggered panic in the area. A worker at a nearby shop said he heard shots and saw people running, with some entering his store for safety. He then locked the shop temporarily to protect those who had taken shelter inside.

Another resident said the neighbourhood was generally regarded as safe despite occasional incidents, adding that he had not previously experienced a shooting of this kind there.

The Metropolitan Police appealed to the public for information and asked anyone who saw the incident or had relevant footage to contact investigators.

Separate explosion in Bristol

In a separate incident, police said a man and a woman were killed in a house explosion in Bristol that was being treated as suspicious.

Three other people were injured and taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police declared a major incident, sealed off the surrounding area and evacuated nearby residents from their homes.

According to police, the blast was considered suspicious but was not being treated as a terrorist incident.