Two wounded as gunman opens fire in busy restaurant

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 19:44

A MAN and a 15-year-old boy were recovering from bullet wounds last night after a gunman wearing a motorbike helmet opened fire in a busy restaurant.

The pair suffered injuries in an attack at the Harry Morgan restaurant in St John's Wood, north-west London.

According to reports, former pop star Rachel Stevens was among those dining at the restaurant at the time.

The BBC's chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym, was also in the restaurant. He said: "I immediately went to ground and pulled my 15-year-old son under the table with me.

"We were aware of a guy running through. He didn't appear as if he had a weapon – it felt like he was the victim. We were under the table and everyone was shouting 'stay down, stay down'.

"Obviously there was a lot of broken glass and people gradually emerged from the tables. People were pretty shaken up and were wailing in shock more than anything else".

Billy Osbourne was also in the restaurant and saw the first man run in.

"Then all of a sudden a guy in a motorbike helmet came in – he had two automatic pistols and he starts firing at the guy.

"As soon as I smelled the cordite I was under the table. Everyone was screaming and hitting the deck.

"It was unbelievable. It was a packed restaurant and it did not appear anybody (among the diners] was hurt."

In fact, two people were shot but the injuries are non life-threatening, Scotland Yard reported.

A 31-year-old man was shot in the leg and a 15-year-old boy was also wounded.

The attacker opened fire several times in the packed venue. No arrests have yet been made yet, a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman added.

Harry Morgan's was established in 1948 by a London butcher and has been shortlisted in the Evening Standard Restaurant Awards.