Shot Russian banker in critical condition

Published on 25/03/2012 00:00

A WEALTHY Russian banker remained “critical but stable” under armed guard in hospital last night after being gunned down in London in a suspected assassination attempt.

German Gorbuntsov was in a coma after he was shot several times as he entered his multi-million-pound executive apartment near Canary Wharf.

Scotland Yard said it was too early to speculate on Russian reports that the attack could be a gangland hit linked to a murder attempt on another banker, Alexander Antonov, in Moscow.

The force’s Trident command, which investigates gang shootings, is understood to have liaised with overseas counterparts in the hunt for the gunman behind the attack on Tuesday evening.

Police said the suspect, who is white, 6ft tall and slim, and was wearing dark clothes, was seen running away from Westferry Road.

The man who attempted to murder Gorbuntsov was known to his victim, according to his neighbour.

The management consultant, 54, was at home when the shooting took place.

He said: “I arrived home at 6.30pm and went upstairs, and around 9pm that night the police knocked on the door and mentioned there had been an incident, and that someone was critically injured and taken to hospital.

“They mentioned that the attacker was known to the person who’d been attacked.

“The morning after, I came down to go to work just before 7am and the glass in the door was all smashed in.”

The victim, in his 40s, previously owned banks in Russia and Moldova, according to Russian media.

Police would not confirm Russian reports that the attacker had used a sub-machine gun and they would also not say where Gorbuntsov is being treated.