Boy, 12, injured in Clapton shooting incident was not shot

Sarah Ingrams, Reporter Tuesday, May 1, 2012
6:07 PM

Police are investigating details of a shooting incident in Clapton which left a 12-year-old boy injured last night (Monday 30). He initially he thought he had been shot; later it emerged that the wound was not caused by a bullet.

Detectives have issued a description of the three suspects involved in the incident.

They are described as a mixture of black and white youths aged between 16 and 18. One suspect was wearing a hooded top. All three rode pedal cycles, one of which is described as a BMX. They were last seen in Millfields Road, Clapton.

Police were called at 9.06pm on Monday to reports of shots being fired in Sewdley Street but found no one injured there.

Later that evening a 12-year-old boy arrived at a north London hospital suffering from a knee injury.

He was discharged from hospital earlier today.

Police believe the victim was chased into Sewdley Street when he fell and injured his knee. During the chase the suspects discharged a gun but further enquires found the boy was not injured by the gun.

A police spokesperson said: “Following the boy’s discharge from hospital it has been established that the injury to the boy’s knee is not a gun shot wound but a gun was discharged in the presence of the boy.”

Borough Commander Matt Horne said: “Police in Hackney would like to reassure residents that we are committed to tracking down those people responsible for the serious crimes we have seen recently. Police will be carrying out extensive community reassurance patrols following these incidents.

“Estate sweeps will be conducted in various areas and additional Met officers have been tasked to patrol the borough. Gang members will be visited and a number of premises will be searched, in order to find those responsible.”

Trident officers are working with local police to investigate the crime but no arrests have been made.

Police request that anyone with information should contact the incident room on 0208 217 7355 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Four youths have been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy in Homerton last night (Monday 30).

They are being held at a London police station this afternoon.

Police were called to reports of a stabbing in Pondsford Street at 21.52.

They arrived with London Ambulance Service to find the teenager with a stab wound to his chest.