'I am heartbroken by the devastating news that a 15-year-old has needlessly lost his life in Ladbroke Grove.

I remain in regular contact with the Met Police who are working round the clock to investigate this horrific incident.

'The Met said residents can expect to see a 'significant police presence' in the area to provide 'reassurance and support.

' Fatal shootings in London are far less common than stabbings, although there have been six homicides involving guns so far this year, and three of those have been recorded in the last six weeks.

But a number of high-profile cases, including a shooting in Dalston in May, which left a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life, have caused huge public concern.

The young age of the victim of this latest shooting, believed to be just 15 years old, and the reports that he was attacked as a pre-carnival event for children took place nearby, will also raise worries about the safety of young people as schools break up for summer.