Woman, 20, shot dead as she chatted with pals in street
A YOUNG woman shot dead while chatting with friends may be the innocent victim of a gangland turf war, police suspect.
Mohanna Abdhou, 20, also known as Montana, was gunned down when up to five shots were sprayed into a group gathered in the street.
Witnesses described how two masked youths on bicycles pulled up and opened fire without warning in Kilburn, north- west London.
Investigators said the shooting was over in a ‘matter of seconds’ before the culprits fled, leaving chaos in their wake.
Paramedics were called but Miss Abdhou, who worked in a sportswear store, suffered catastrophic injuries and could not be saved.
Yesterday, her family, who are originally from Iran, were being comforted by relatives at their home in nearby Northolt.
Grieving friends paid tribute to the ‘beautiful’ victim, who they said would be ‘missed by many’. one said: ‘I can’t believe it, it just doesn’t seem real.’
the shooting took place yards from a school and children’s playground on Friday at about 9pm. residents said both attack- ers used scarves to mask their faces. one witness, who has lived in the street for 25 years, said the pair were white teenagers wearing hoodies and he saw ‘two flashes’ shortly after they arrived. however, he thought it was simply youngsters playing with fireworks on the balmy Bank holiday evening. he said: ‘I
thought it was kids messing with bangers. It was like seeing a spark, like a firework.’ he added: ‘My neighbour said these people were seen before – about a month before, with guns down the road.’ Another witness, Ahmed Ismail, 48, said: ‘two shots were fired. And children were playing here on the grass nearby. Everybody was shouting it was a gun.’ the shooting took place in an area of the capital once notorious for its gang rivalries.
It is less than a mile from the Mozart Estate where there have been a series of shootings. In one incident a teenager holding a baby was wounded with shotgun pellets.
Flowers and a candle were left at the scene of the latest shooting yesterday as police carried out houseto-house inquiries. A note with one bunch read: ‘For Montana, rest in peace beautiful. We are so sorry to lose young people this way.’ tributes were paid to Miss Abdhou online, including one by a friend who wrote ‘rest in peace Mohanna, you will be truly missed by many.’ Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge, who is leading the inquiry, said the victim was ‘enjoying an evening out’ with several other girl friends. he said: ‘We believe a number of shots were aimed at the group, sadly Montana was shot and died from her injuries at the scene. ‘It was still daylight when this attack took place and the location is very near a children’s playground. ‘this was a cowardly attack on a young woman who was out enjoying the warm weather in the company of her friends.’ In a direct appeal to anyone who knows the killers to come forward, he added: ‘two men went home on Friday and their behaviour had changed. I know someone close to them will have noticed. I would ask anyone with suspicions to examine their consciences and do the right thing by contacting police.’