Euston shooting: Priest describes aftermath of ‘drive-by’ outside church following memorial service
A priest has told Sky News of the scenes of “pandemonium” outside his church in London after mourners leaving a memorial service were shot at from a moving car.
Parish Priest Father Jeremy Trood had just finished a requiem mass for a mother and daughter at St Aloysius Church on Phoenix Road, near Euston station, when the drive-by shooting took place outside on Saturday afternoon.
Six people were injured in the incident, including a seven-year-old girl who remains in a stable but critical condition, and a 48-year-old woman who suffered potentially life-changing injuries.
Mr Trood said he heard the gunshot shortly after mourners left the church to release doves outside.
“I was inside the church and suddenly there was an enormous bang and people rushed back into the church screaming and saying shots had been fired,” he said.
“There are no words that can describe what had happened and I can’t imagine why anybody could possibly do such a thing. There were hundreds of people in the church coming out. It was pandemonium.”
Pic: Simon Lamrock
Father Trood said some people took shelter in the church.
“They were very scared, people sheltered in the church until the police said they can leave, but some of them were so scared they had to wait a while to get their confidence back up to go outside,” he added.
As well as the seven-year-old girl and 48-year-old woman, three other women – aged 21, 41 and 54 – and a 12-year-old girl were also injured in the attack.
The 12-year-old suffered leg injuries but has since been discharged from hospital, police have said. She is expected to make a full recovery.
Superintendent Jack Rowlands, from the Metropolitan Police, said the force believes the suspect fired a shotgun from a Toyota C-HR at about 1.30pm before driving away from the scene.
Officers are searching for a 2019 model black Toyota C-HR, he added.
Police have shared a stock image of a Toyota C-HR, a car they are seeking in connection with the incident. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Superintendent Rowlands described the incident as a “senseless act of violence” as the hunt for the gunman continued on Sunday.
Appealing for information, he said “a significant number of specialist detectives and local officers” are “working around the clock, but we also need the public’s help”.
He continued: “We want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information about it. Your information could be vitally important, no matter how insignificant you think it may be.”
People who attended the memorial service at the church in Phoenix Road told Sky News they do not know why it happened.
The memorial was held for Sara Sanchez (right) and her mother Fresia Calderon. Pic: GoFundMe
The shooting took place after the ceremony held in memory of 20-year-old Sara Sanchez and her mother, Fresia Calderon, who died within a month of one another in November.
Ms Sanchez died following a battle with leukaemia, while her mother Ms Calderon died suddenly from a rare blood clot on arrival at Heathrow from Colombia, MyLondon reported.
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Panic inside church after shooting
Those who knew the mother and daughter said those hurt in the incident were attending the service in their memory.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan described Saturday’s attack as a “deeply distressing incident”.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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