Armed police units and extra patrols are being deployed on the streets of London after a weekend of gun and knife violence saw three shootings, a stabbing and an acid attack spree.
More than 60-people have been murdered in London this year already and the latest incidents over the Bank Holiday weekend will lead to concern that Scotland Yard is struggling to cope.
On Saturday a 17-year-old was shot dead in Kennington, while the following day a 13-year-old boy was wounded when he was hit by a stray shotgun pellet during a gun attack on a 15-year-old youth in Wealdstone.
On Sunday evening a 22-year-old man was shot and wounded in New Cross in south east London, while a short time later a 43-year-old man was stabbed in Perivale to the west of the city.
Elsewhere three men aged 22, 27 and 17 were left with life changing injuries after being targeted in an acid attack in the early hours of Monday in Hackney, east London.
In response to the violence the Met has increased patrols in hotspots across the capital.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Messenger said: "The violence used has rightly caused concern and we are doing all we can to address this.
"Over the Bank Holiday weekend, additional officers are on the streets across the capital, working hard to keep London safe.
"They are using highly visible local patrols supported by armed response, traffic motorcycles, dog units, and air support - alongside plain clothes intelligence-led operations.”
The latest round of violence began on Saturday in Kennington where Rhyiem Ainsworth Barton was murdered in a gun attack.
His mother said her son, who was an aspiring architect, who had not been a gang member.
Pretana Morgan said: "Let my son be the last and be an example to everyone. Just let it stop. What must be, must be."
She said her son was not in a gang and he had been "trying to make a difference" by learning to work with children.
On Sunday police in Wealdstone, north London, were called at a round 1.15pm following reports of a shooting in the High Street
A 15-year-old was found to be suffering from head injuries caused by a number of shotgun pellets.
A few minutes later police were alerted to reports that a second boy had also been injured.
The 13-year-old had been walking along the road with his parents when he sustained a pellet wound to the head.
Police said they believed he was an entirely innocent bystander, who had been caught up in the cross fire.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Rose, Harrow Borough Commander said: "It would appear that the first victim was approached by two male suspects, one in possession of a shotgun - and shots were fired injuring him and an entirely innocent member of the public.
"This was a callous, reckless and brazen act, without any thought by those responsible for the fact that there were families with children and people in the high street enjoying their weekend. This was quite simply, appalling."
Just hours later police responded to reports of a stabbing in Perivale, where a 43-year-old man was attacked by a motorist following a row in a residential street.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers were called to Buckingham Avenue at around 9pm on Sunday to reports of a man suffering a knife wound.
He was taken to hospital in north London where his injuries were not thought to be life threatening.
Detectives are also investigating a shooting in south London in which a 22-year-old man was wounded in New Cross Road.