Four men have been charged with three attempted murders after police in London were shot at and returned fire.

Armed police were called to an address in Leytonstone at roughly 10.45pm on Thursday to reports of a suspect with a gun.

Armed officers started following a car after it was spotted nearby and failed to stop.



Scotland Yard said "a number of shots were fired towards officers" during a pursuit and that police had fired back.

Parminder Doal, 20, told the East London and West Essex Guardian: "The road erupted in shouting - it was really aggressive.

"There has never been that many blue lights.


"I saw around 50 police officers all over Bective Road.

"There were at least 15 police vehicles, with armed officers and unarmed officers."

Metropolitan Police said there were no reported injures after the gun fight.

A firearm was recovered from the car.

Nathaniel Lewis, 22, Darnell Joseph-Newill, 21, and Troy Ifill, 21, all from east London and Lekan Akinsoji, 20, of no fixed address, have each been charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a shotgun, possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and possession of an axe and a "zombie knife".

They are all in custody and are due to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on 30 July.