London, United Kingdom— One man was killed and three others injured early Thursday when a gunman opened fire outside a nightclub in central London, sending clubgoers running into the street.
The shooting happened at 2:15 a.m. outside a club on Wardour Street in Soho. The venue was closing. A crowd was waiting on the sidewalk. Witnesses said an argument started inside, spilled outside, then shots were fired.
Four people were hit. A 27-year-old man died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics. The three injured, two men and a woman aged 22 to 31, were taken to St Thomas' Hospital. One remains in critical condition.
Armed police cordoned off the street. Forensic officers marked shell casings on the pavement. The club was shut and emptied. Officers reviewed CCTV from inside and from nearby shops.
"The attacker fired four to five times, then ran toward Oxford Street. He was alone," a Metropolitan Police detective said at a morning briefing. "We believe the victims were known to the suspect, not random."
Soho, London's nightlife core, has seen increased security after a series of late-night assaults this year. Clubs employ door staff, but guns are rare in the area. Police said the weapon appeared to be a converted pistol.
Club staff said they had ejected a man 20 minutes before the shooting for aggressive behavior. He returned with a gun hidden in his jacket. That account is under verification.
Mayor's office called for a review of late-night venue security. The investigation is being handled by the Met's Specialist Crime Command.
Police have released an image of a man in a dark hoodie wanted for questioning. No arrest has been made.
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