Met says an urgent investigation has been launched [All pics Simon Lamrock]

A SEVEN-year-old girl has been left with life threatening injuries and four women and another child were taken to hospital after a drive-by shooting in Somers Town this afternoon (Saturday).

The Metropolitan Police launched an urgent investigation was underway following the gun attack around 1.30pm in Phoenix Road.

One woman, 48, has potentially “life-changing” injuries after being shot while two women – 41 and 54 years old – are not said to have suffered serious physical injuries.

A 21-year-old woman was also been taken to hospital and a second girl, 12, also has a “minor leg injury”.

The victims were at the entrance of the Roman Catholic Church of St Aloysius as mourners came out of a memorial service.

It has been reported that the service was for a mother and daughter who tragically died within a month of one another.

No arrests have been made as of Saturday night (8pm).

There was a significant police presence in Phoenix Road and Eversholt Street and police said they would increase patrols over the weekend.

Several people were waiting for meals at the Euston Foodbank in the former St Aloysius school in Phoenix Road.

Dorothea Hackman, who helps runs the service, said she heard the sound of gunfire and her colleague ran out to lock the front gates.

She said the service, which provided a week’s food to 70 households today, had kept running despite the shocking scenes as “people need to eat”, adding: “We’ve been making cups of coffee for the police today.

“I heard the bang and we had half a dozen people outside in the quadrangle that we had to get in.

“There was some concern they might try and come in to get people in queue.

“It sounded like a single gunshot, not an automatic weapon. But I haven’t heard a gunshot before in real life, only in films. It did remind me of the sound of the bus explosion [7/7 bombing in Tavistock Square].”

“It is shocking.”

An air ambulance landed in Maria Fidelis Secondary School playground while a police helicopter was hovering overhead.

The leader of Camden Council Georgia Gould said she was “deeply saddened” and said her thoughts were with the injured women and children.

Superintendent Ed Wells said: “Any shooting incident is unacceptable, but for multiple people, including two children, to be injured in a shooting in the middle of a Saturday afternoon is shocking.

“Our thoughts are with all the victims, but in particular with the seven-year-old girl who is in a life threatening condition and with her family.

Eversholt Street remained closed to traffic last night (Saturday) 

“An investigation into this dreadful attack is already well under way involving local officers and specialist detectives.

“I can assure the communities of Camden and beyond that we will do everything we possibly can to identify and bring to justice those who were responsible.

“Local residents can expect to see an increased visible police presence in the area through the weekend and into the days ahead as we progress this investigation.

“I would urge anyone with information to come forward, either to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.”