Two moped riders pointed shotgun at people in cars in Newham

The incidents all happened in the E16 area

Police in Newham are investigating a series of linked incidents in which two moped riders pulled out a shotgun and aimed it at people in cars.

The three offences all happened in the postcode E16 area in the space of 24 hours of each other.

The first started in Evelyn Road at around 11pm on Friday, 7 February. Three teenagers had got into a taxi but became concerned when the vehicle was followed into Hanameel Street and then on to Barking Road.

When the taxi was stationary at traffic lights, the moped riders approached the vehicle and “flashed” a sawn-off shotgun at them.

The junction of Evelyn Road and Hanameel Street in Newham (credit: Google Maps)

The following day, at around 8.20pm, a 28-year-old man was driving along Freemasons Road, having just been shopping. As he was returning home, he realised he was being followed by two people on a moped.

He changed his route to try and lose them but the pair continued to follow him. The victim then crashed into a parked car in Goodwing Close.

The suspects then approached his vehicle and asked for his name and where he was from. Again, they were seen to have a shotgun in their possession.

They stole his watch and a designer bag but then gave them back before getting onto the moped and fleeing.

Half an hour later, two men and a woman, all aged in their early 20s, were in a car waiting for a friend in Shipman Road, near Prince Regent Lane.

As the friend arrived and got into the car, a moped pulled out in front of the car and the riders shouted “where are you from?”

Shipman Road near the junction with Prince Regent Lane (credit: Google Maps)

Fearing for what was about to happen, the driver accelerated away. One of the victims described that one of the suspects was holding a firearm with a long barrel.

The victims made their way to a place of safety where they would discover what appeared to be a number of holes and cracks in the windshield that detectives believe may have been caused by shotgun pellets.

None of the people involved in any of the incidents were injured and, at this stage, there have been no arrests.

A/Detective Inspector Daniel McInerney, of Specialist Crime, said: “This is an extremely concerning series of events and, but for sheer luck, this investigation could have had far more serious consequences.

“We are working hard to identify those responsible and need the public’s help. Were you in or around these areas on 8 February, and did you see two males acting suspiciously? Did they approach you too, or did you capture dash cam footage that might help us trace them?

“Please contact us immediately, in the strictest of confidence. Alternatively use Crimestoppers to remain anonymous; what matters most is that you make the call.”

Anyone with information, video, or images that could assist police is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 8729/7 Feb20.

To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.