Five arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of UK Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson

Five people have been arrested after a Black Lives Matter activist was shot at a house party in London at the weekend.

Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson protesting outside of Tottenham Police Station in December 2020.

Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson protesting outside of Tottenham Police Station in December, 2020. Source: Getty

British police say they have arrested five people on suspicion of attempted murder over the shooting of a prominent Black Lives Matter activist.

Sasha Johnson, 27, was hospitalised in critical condition after she was shot at a house party in southeast London early on Sunday.

Police and a friend have said nothing suggests that Ms Johnson was targeted in the attack but the Taking the Initiative Party said she had received death threats in the past related to her activism.

London's Metropolitan Police force has said Johnson was in the back garden attending the house party when four black men entered the premises and discharged a firearm, injuring Ms Johnson.

Police said on Wednesday they detained five male suspects between the ages of 17 and 28 for other alleged offenses, including possession of drugs and weapons, before all five were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

They remained in police custody.

The police force stressed it was not aware of "any reports of threats made against (Johnson) prior to the incident".

A friend of Ms Johnson's told the BBC earlier this week that gang violence at the party may have led to Johnson getting shot.


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Source: AAP, SBS


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