29/08/2005

Woman shot dead at christening party

Police have arrested four people, one of them a 14-year-old boy, after a woman was shot dead at a south London community centre.

The shooting incident occurred at around 8pm on Saturday after three males, who it is believed gate-crashed the party, opened fire on guests.

A Sierra-Leone born woman, reported to be in her 30's, who was holding a child at the time was shot dead.

The incident is being investigated by officers from Operation Trident, a specialist unit in the Metropolitan Police that deals with gun-related crimes.

Police said that there was no clear line of inquiry as a motive for the attack had not yet been established, but confirmed that the victim was a guest of the family holding the christening party.

It is understood that a number of shots had been fired at guests in what has been described as a random spray pattern. It is not thought that the woman, who died from a gunshot to the head, was singled out during the attack.

The gang apparently stole handbags, mobile phones, and other items before making off.

(SP/KMcA)

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