The air ambulance arrives in Somers Town on Saturday [Simon Lamrock]

A PARISH priest will send a message of defiance at his first mass back at his church following a drive-by shooting which left six people injured – including two children.

Father Jeremy Trood said Somers Town had been shaken after the attack outside St Aloysius Roman Catholic Church on Saturday afternoon.

He said: “The message from the church is that it is important that we go back to leading our lives. We shouldn’t allow something like this to alter the way we live.

“It’s important we get back to normality, after this horror.”

A seven-year-old girl was among those injured when the shooting began at the corner of Eversholt Street and Phoenix Road. She was still in hospital this week where her condition was serious but stable.

Police, meanwhile, said they had released a 22-year-old man on bail after arresting him on suspicion of attempted murder on Sunday afternoon. Detectives have appealed all week for anybody with information to come forward.

Eversholt Street in the aftermath of the shootings [Simon Lamrock]

They believe a shotgun was used, with pellets fired from the window of a black Toyota – a stock photograph of the model was circulated as part of their appeal.

Father Trood praised the police for maintaining a “very visible presence” since the attack, adding: “We had just finished the service and people were making their way out. I heard the gunshot. It is shocking. You just don’t expect something like this to happen around here.”

The memorial service was for Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter Sara Sanchez, 20, who died in UCLH on November 30 from leukaemia. Sara was a former pupil of Maria Fidelis and staff from the school had attended the service.

Paramedics rushed to help four women who had been shot – all of whom needed hospital treatment. One sustained serious injuries described as potentially “life-changing”. A second injured girl – aged 12 – received treatment for a wound to her leg but has since been discharged.

The New Journal understands the Met are treating the shooting as a case of mistaken identity with none of those hurt being the intended targets.

A key first line of inquiry is instead warring neighbourhood gangs.

The model of Toyota which detectives believe was used by the shooters [Met handout]

Detectives held called a public meeting yesterday (Thursday) online, while psychological support has been offered to the secondary school’s pupils who have been reassured they are not under any threat.

Helen Gill, the headteacher at Maria Fidelis, said: “We are all deeply shocked by the events that took place outside St Aloysius church on Saturday afternoon. The pupils have all been spoken to by either myself or another member of the senior team in assembly or tutor time.

“I also met with the police who assured me there is no threat to anyone attending Maria Fidelis school. I appreciate however that many in the wider community in Camden will still feel upset and frightened.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of all those who were injured.”

In an online appeal for help funding treatment for her condition, Sara had described herself as “a proud British Colombian who was born and grew up here in the UK”. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in 2020.

Ms Sanchez had to stop her studies at City and Islington College in the second year due to chemotherapy treatments that led to the cancer going into remission for two years.

Her mother, Ms Calderon, had died just a few weeks before her daughter on November 5 at Heathrow Airport from a blood clot after a flight back from Colombia.

Dorothea Hackman, who was working in Euston Foodbank next door to the church, told how several people were waiting for emergency packages of food when the shooting happened, adding: “My colleague ran out to lock the gates. But then we just kept the service going. People need to eat. I think they are more worried about that than getting shot.”

Supt Jack Rowlands

Superintendent Jack Rowlands, said: “This was a shocking incident. People came here to attend a funeral, to be with friends and loved ones and to mourn together. Instead they were the victims of a senseless act of violence. “We know it will have had a significant impact on communities across Camden and we will have a visible police presence in the local area in the coming days and weeks to provide extra reassurance.”

Supt Rowlands added: “We also need the public’s help. 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.”