Gun crimes escalating

In addition to a flurry of gun-related crimes since the start of this year, four serious cases within a 24-hour period last week continued to point to the ease of access to illegal weapons.

From January 1 to May 31 this year, the police say that they have recorded a 33% increase in gun crimes. Given the number of gun-related incidents that have occurred since then and the fact that illegal guns and ammunition are being seized, the figure is expected to rise.

Between last Wednesday and Thursday there were four-gun related cases, one of which resulted in a fatality. Around 9.30pm last Wednesday, Mohamed Khan, 54, was shot in his side at Independence Street in La Grange during an attempted robbery.

Also, during a 15-minute ordeal on Wednesday night, three masked bandits, including one armed with a shotgun, invaded an Albion,