Student was shot as he walked home from club

The death of a bright young student shot dead in the street today highlights London's growing gun culture.

Somalian Galal Hamza, 25, was gunned down as he walked with a friend in an apparently motiveless attack.

Shocked police officers said today: "This was a man who had no criminal links at all. The circumstances of this murder are extremely worrying."

Mr Hamza had been returning home from a nightclub when he and his friend were confronted by three men on a Kensington street.

Without any warning one of the men pulled out a gun and fired it at point blank range into his forehead. His friend was also shot but managed to run from the scene. The gunman fired at him again as he fled but missed.

The injured man, who has not been named, is said to be stable and recovering under armed police guard in hospital.

Police, who have launched a murder hunt, say the killing was apparently motiveless. Senior officers in Kensington and Chelsea say the circumstances of the shooting are deeply worrying.

The murder comes as Scotland Yard chief Sir John Stevens has ordered more armed officers onto the streets. He has also called for uniformed back-up units to be issued with non-lethal Taser stun guns in an extraordinary move to combat gun crime.

The decision was taken amid mounting calls from uniform officers for more specialist police units to be issued with firearms - a step away from arming all British police officers.

The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-andfile officers, says urgent action is necessary to prevent a police officer being killed by armed criminals.

Mr Hamza, who was a university student, died at 10am yesterday. The shooting took place at

2.25am on Sunday shortly after he and a friend left a nightclub in Earl's Court Road.

The friends were walking in Redcliffe Gardens when they became aware of three men - two black and one white - following them close behind. The two men turned and asked what was wrong. At that point the white man pulled out a handgun and shot Mr Hamza in the head. He fired at his friend, who was hit in the groin but managed to get away.

Police are appealing to anyone who saw anything in the area at the time of the shooting to contact them.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Guy Ashley said: "It causes me great concern that someone can be shot and killed in the street in London in these circumstances without apparent motive.

"We urgently need to speak to anyone who knows anything about this murder or a possible motive for the attack."

Anyone with information should call the murder incident room on 020 7321 9251 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.