Two men were injured when a man with a pellet gun started taking potshots at street drinkers in Archway.

One man in his 40s was taken to hospital as a fragment of a pellet hit him in the eye. A second man, also in his 40s, was struck on the arm but did not need treatment. The attack happened in the middle of the day in Elthorne Park in May.

Details emerged when Hillrise ward councillor David Poyser asked a question at Thursday’s full council meeting. Cllr Poyser said: “It is terrifying and totally unacceptable if young people are taking potshots at street drinkers for kicks.”

He quizzed Town Hall community safety chief Andy Hull on what the council was doing to reduce weapon ownership. Cllr Hull said: “Police take the main role around enforcement and removal of weapons from the streets, conducting regular intelligence-led stop-and-searches in hotspots known for violence or gang activity and conducting weekly weapon sweeps in every ward.”

He added: “The details provided by the vulnerable victims remain limited.” A Met spokesman confirmed that Islington CID was investigating. No arrests have been made.

• Keywords
  GUN CRIME, DRINKING PLACES, VICTIM SUPPORT
• Geographical keyword
  ELTHORNE PARK [Open Space], ARCHWAY
• Persons keyword
  David Poyser, Andy Hull