Witnesses have described how ‘all hell let loose’ after a gunman blasted shots into a busy London shopping centre injuring two.

Two men, aged 33 and 27, were found with a gunshot wound each at the Angel Central next to the O2 Academy Islington at around 9.30pm on Tuesday evening.

Both men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 33-year-old’s injuries have been assessed as life-changing, police said.

No arrests have been made.

Witnesses have now revealed that people ‘ran for their lives’ after the dramatic ambush.

The Angel Centre includes a number of fashion shops and restaurants, as well as the gig venue.

Restaurant worker Marco Pires, 24, was on his way to a shift at an nearby Upper Street eatery told Metro: ‘I heard some bangs at first I thought it was like someone hammering on a construction site but it too late in the evening.

‘The next thing I knew, people were running out of the centre. It was very chaotic; they looked like they were running for their lives. One said: “It was a gun.”‘

The Angel Centre has security during the day but on gig nights the numbers are beefed up, and there are also a number of CCTV cameras throughout the building.

Police are trawling through footage as the hunt for the gunman continues.

A builder who was on his way home after a pint in a local pub said: ‘All hell let loose. There were at least a couple of loud pops then people started running out of the centre. It was scary stuff.’

A shop worker in the shopping centre said: ‘I got to work on Wednesday and the whole place was cordoned off. The police said there had been a shooting.

‘Obviously on gig nights people come from all over the place and depending on the act there can be a different atmosphere. But generally this is a real shock.’

Lewisham rapper Catch was playing at the O2 Academy when it was locked down.

The scene of the shootings and stabbing are close to Islington police station.

Houses on Parkfield Street and nearby roads fetch upwards of £2m.

A resident said: ‘We saw loads of police arrive, some were armed. They fanned out across the area and launched what seemed like a man hunt.

‘There have been stabbings around here but shooting is another level. We’ve had no problems really with gig-goers at the O2. The security seems good and the young people going there generally behave themselves.’

Bradley Miskin told This Is Local London: ‘We assumed the band had stopped because they thought they had run out of time, as they stopped in the middle of a song.

‘They then came back onstage a moment later and announced that we had been locked down, so they decided to play another song while we waited to find out what was happening.

‘We were then told by venue staff that there had been an altercation between people outside and that they were temporarily keeping us inside so that we did not walk out into it.’

Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in the area, said: ‘This was an incredibly reckless incident in a busy area close to a major venue and no doubt caused significant fear among members of the public.

‘Violence has no place in our communities, and we are pursuing every available line of enquiry to identify those involved.

‘There will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days, and anyone with concerns is urged to speak to officers.

‘Angel Central remains partially closed as we conduct enquiries at the scene.

‘We recognise the impact this has had, and we are grateful for the understanding and cooperation of the community and our partners.’

Anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police is urged to contact 101.