Woman shot in hospital drive-by

A woman was shot outside a hospital when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire with an automatic pistol.

A man was also hit in the drive-by shooting.

It is believed he was the intended victim of a ganglandstyle assassination attempt and the woman, an innocent bystander, was hit by accident.

The woman, in her forties, was struck in the calf outside the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.

The man, in his thirties, tried to drag himself into the accident and emergency unit.

Both victims were treated by doctors within seconds and are described as stable today.

Scotland Yard said the incident took place at 5.15pm yesterday on Pond Street which runs along the front of the hospital.

A motorcycle with a pillion passenger drew up alongside the man as he walked down the street.

The passenger produced an automatic pistol and fired several shots before the bike sped off. The accident and

emergency unit was sealed off and both victims have been placed under armed police protection.

Detectives from Scotland Yard's specialist Operation Trafalgar unit, which was launched recently to tackle shootings in London's underworld, is investigating.

Forensics officers carried out a fingertip search around a bus stop where the shooting occurred.

Police sources emphasised that the woman was believed to be an innocent bystander who was caught up in the shooting simply because she was walking past at the time.

Drama student Geoff Bretton, 20, who lives on Pond Street, said: "We were told by the police that the guy who had been shot tried to drag himself into the A&E department. It's all pretty shocking." A Yard spokesman said: "We are keeping an open mind at this stage about the motive behind this shooting."

Detectives are looking into the background of the man to establish a possible motive. Anne Lapper, site manager for the Royal Free added: "A man and a woman are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds after an incident in Pond Street.

"The man has two wounds and is currently undergoing tests.

"Both patients are conscious. The hospital is currently closed to emergencies and other local hospitals have been informed."