Met Police hunt three men after Enfield firearms and stabbing

Key Points

• Detectives from the Metropolitan Police have released images of three men they wish to identify and speak to in connection with a firearms incident in Enfield.
• The incident took place on the evening of Thursday, 12 June, on Park Avenue at its junction with Green Lanes in Enfield, north London.
• A 32-year-old man from London was first shot at and then stabbed while seated in his car, sustaining serious injuries but later making a full recovery.
• Police received reports at approximately 23:00hrs that a 30-year-old man had discharged a firearm at another man while he was sitting in his vehicle, with the bullet narrowly missing the victim.
• Moments later, a second man is reported to have approached the same vehicle and stabbed the victim through the driver’s side door.
• Around half an hour before this attack, the suspect believed to have been in possession of the firearm is thought to have attempted to shoot an 18-year-old man after a foot chase, again narrowly missing him.
• The stabbing victim suffered serious back injuries and was taken to hospital in a life‑threatening condition before subsequently recovering.
• Detective Constable Joe Halsey of the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Team said the victim was “brutally attacked” and is “incredibly fortunate to be alive”.
• DC Halsey confirmed that officers have carried out extensive reviews of witness statements, CCTV and forensic evidence, leading to the identification of multiple suspects.
• Detectives are appealing for anyone who recognises the three men in the released images, or who has information about their whereabouts, to contact police without delay.

Detectives are appealing for the public’s help to identify three men after a 32-year-old was shot at and then stabbed in a serious firearms incident in Enfield, in which he narrowly escaped death and later made a full recovery. The Metropolitan Police have released images of the men they want to trace in connection with the attack, which took place late on Thursday, 12 June, on Park Avenue at the junction with Green Lanes in north London. The incident, which involved two separate alleged attempts to shoot different victims and a subsequent stabbing, is now the focus of a major investigation by the Met’s Specialist Crime Team.

What happened during the Enfield firearms incident?

According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were called at approximately 23:00hrs on Thursday, 12 June, to reports that a firearm had been discharged at a man who was sitting in his car on Park Avenue, close to the junction with Green Lanes. The suspect, described as a 30-year-old man, is alleged to have fired at the victim while he remained seated in the driver’s seat, with the shot narrowly missing him. Just seconds later, it is reported that another man approached the same vehicle and stabbed the 32-year-old driver through the driver’s side door, inflicting serious injuries to his back.

Police say the victim, a 32-year-old man from London, was left critically hurt and was taken to hospital in what was initially assessed as a life-threatening condition. Medical staff were able to stabilise him, and he has since made what is described as a full recovery from the injuries sustained during the attack. Detectives are treating the sequence of events as a linked firearms and knife assault, and the incident is being investigated as part of a wider pattern of serious violence in the area.

Was there an earlier attempted shooting before the stabbing?

Detectives believe the events on Park Avenue were preceded by an earlier alleged attempt to shoot a different victim. Approximately half an hour before the stabbing, it is understood that the suspect who later discharged the firearm at the 32-year-old man had already been involved in another incident. In that episode, the same suspect is thought to have chased an 18-year-old man on foot and attempted to shoot him during or shortly after the pursuit. The shot again narrowly missed the teenager, and he was not physically injured, but the incident is being treated as an attempted shooting linked to the later attack.

This earlier confrontation forms a key part of the ongoing inquiry, as investigators consider whether there is any connection between the 18-year-old and the subsequent victim, or whether the motive may involve wider local tensions. The sequence of a failed shooting attempt followed by a separate shooting and stabbing within the space of around 30 minutes has heightened concern among officers about the level of risk posed by those involved.

What injuries did the victim suffer and what is his condition now?

During the attack at around 23:00hrs, the 32-year-old victim was targeted twice — first by a gunman, and then by a man armed with a knife. While the firearm discharge narrowly missed him, the subsequent stabbing caused significant trauma. The attacker is reported to have thrust a knife through the open or partially open driver’s side door of the victim’s car, striking the man in the back. These wounds were serious enough that paramedics treated the case as life-threatening upon arrival.

The victim was transported to hospital where he received emergency treatment for his back injuries and was initially considered to be in a critical condition. Over time, his condition improved, and police have since confirmed that he has made a full recovery. Despite this positive outcome, detectives continue to stress the gravity of the violence involved and the potential for fatal consequences given both the use of a firearm and the severity of the stabbing.

What have detectives said about the investigation?

Detective Constable Joe Halsey of the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Team has publicly condemned the level of violence used in the incident and highlighted how close the victim came to losing his life. DC Halsey stated that the 32-year-old man was “brutally attacked” and is “incredibly fortunate to be alive,” underlining that both the shooting and the stabbing posed an immediate and extreme threat to his safety. The officer’s comments reflect the seriousness with which the Met is treating the investigation.

DC Halsey also explained that his team has continued to follow all possible lines of enquiry in relation to the incident. He said that officers have already carried out extensive reviews of witness statements taken from people in and around Park Avenue and Green Lanes at the time of the attacks. In addition, detectives have scrutinised CCTV footage from the surrounding area and examined forensic evidence gathered at the scene and from related locations, work which has led to the identification of multiple suspects.

Why have images of three men been released?

As part of the latest phase of the inquiry, detectives have released images of three men they wish to identify and speak to in connection with the Enfield incident. Officers believe that these individuals may have crucial information about the circumstances leading up to the attempted shootings and the stabbing, or may themselves be directly involved. By circulating the images publicly, the Met hopes that members of the community who recognise the men will come forward and provide names or information about their current whereabouts.

DC Halsey has urged the public to look closely at the pictures and consider whether they recognise any of the three men. He has made a direct appeal to anyone with knowledge of who they are, or where they might be, to get in touch with the investigation team without delay. Police emphasise that information from the public, including seemingly minor details, can often prove vital in piecing together movements and associations in complex violent crime cases.

How extensive has the police work been so far?

In his comments, Detective Constable Halsey indicated that the Specialist Crime Team has already undertaken a wide range of investigative activity since the night of the incident in June. This has included analysing multiple witness accounts, reviewing numerous CCTV angles and time frames from Park Avenue, Green Lanes and surrounding streets, and pursuing forensic lines of enquiry. The combination of physical evidence, digital material and testimony has, according to the officer, enabled detectives to narrow the focus of the investigation and identify several individuals of interest.

The release of the images is described as a significant development, marking a move from largely behind-the-scenes investigative work to a more public phase of the appeal. Police hope that by sharing the images with local and city-wide audiences, they will generate additional leads that can complement forensic and CCTV-based evidence. Detectives also continue to liaise with local officers and community contacts in Enfield to gather background intelligence that might help determine motive, links between those involved, and any prior disputes or incidents.

How can the public help detectives identify the three men?

Officers are encouraging anyone who recognises the individuals in the released photographs to contact the Metropolitan Police as soon as possible. Members of the public who believe they know the identities of the men, or who have information about where they live, work or socialise, are being asked to share those details with investigators. Police stress that those who come forward will be helping an ongoing effort to address serious violence and firearms crime in the area.

Detectives have also indicated that information can typically be shared via non-emergency police contact channels or through independent anonymous reporting services, for those who may feel reluctant to speak directly to officers. The key message from DC Halsey and the Specialist Crime Team is that any piece of information, no matter how small it might seem, could prove crucial in bringing the investigation to a successful conclusion and in preventing further harm.

What is the wider context of firearms and knife crime in London?

While specific statistics are not included in the details of this particular case, the incident in Enfield reflects ongoing concerns about the use of both firearms and knives in violent offences across London. Serious incidents that combine gun and knife attacks, such as this one, are of particular concern to specialist units within the Metropolitan Police, given the heightened risk of fatal outcomes. The Enfield case, involving two alleged attempted shootings and a stabbing of a single victim in quick succession, exemplifies the extreme end of this spectrum of violence.

The Met’s Specialist Crime Team routinely investigates complex and high-harm offences, drawing on forensics, intelligence and community information. Cases like the Park Avenue attack are often used internally to inform operational tactics and community engagement, aiming to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents and to reassure residents that serious violence is being tackled robustly. The appeal to identify three men in connection with the Enfield incident is one visible part of that wider effort.