Ilford shooting: Two men critically wounded in east London attack

Victims aged in 20s found injured in street on Saturday morning

Police were called to reports of shots fired in Courtland Avenue shortly after midnight (Google)

Two men are in a criticial condition in hospital after being shot in east London.

The pair, believed to be aged in their 20s, were found injured in Courtland Avenue in Ilford just after midnight on Saturday morning.

The Metropolitan Police said they had launched an “urgent investigation” into the attack.

“Police were called to shots fired in Courtland Avenue, Ilford at 12.06am on Saturday, 28 September,” the force said in a statement.

“Armed police, local officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found two men suffering from gunshot injuries.

“Both men, believed to be aged in their twenties, were taken to a central London hospital where they remain in a critical condition.”

Detectives appealed for witnesses and information. Nobody has been arrested so far and police remain at the scene.

Metropolitan Police statistics show there were an average of 30 shootings – defined as “gun crime lethal barrelled discharge” – every month in London over the last two years.

So far this year eight people have been shot dead in the capital, compared to 15 for the whole of 2018.

Anyone with information about the double shooting is asked to call police on 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.