I heard the shots that killed my sister

The 26-year-old died after walking into the line of fire as she cut across a car park on her way from work to the home in New Cross she shared with her boyfriend when the gunmen began shooting at about 6.20pm.

Today her sister Elzbirta Pniewska told of her horror at hearing the shots which killed Magda as they discussed her plans to go home for Christmas.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard from their home town of Brzeg in south-west Poland, Elzbirta said: "It would have been the first time she had come home in three years because things were going so well for her in London. She really liked it there.

"She loved her job so much and she felt contented enough to come back to see us and my children because she was a godmother to them.

"She was saying how happy she was to be able to come back having made a good life for herself in London. I heard what sounded like bangs and the phone seemed to go dead."

Then hours later the family learned that she had been shot and killed.

Elzbirta added: "It is tragic, everyone here in my house is crying out and missing their lovely aunt."

Police say one of the gunmen was standing by a red Volkswagen Polo outside a council estate block, the other was at the top of steps leading to a nearby field. The pair were just yards apart when they started shooting and Magda was caught in the middle. When the brief gun battle was over, she was found bleeding outside Stunell House with a gunshot wound to her head.

She was taken to hospital but was pronounced her dead a short time later.

In another tragic twist her tearful father was planning to come to Britain to see his daughter this weekend.

He said: "I can't stop crying. I was supposed to fly over and see her this week. We always thought London was wonderful, it was her dream. We were so glad she was there. I had no idea it was not safe."

His daughter had been in London for four years and worked at a Bupa care home, Manley Court. She was due to host a party yesterday for the elderly residents she cared for.

Officers from Trident, the Met's gun crime in the black community unit, are investigating if the shoot-out was linked to drug dealing. Three men and a woman have been arrested but no weapon has yet been found. The Volkswagen Polo was found abandoned half a mile away.

Anyone with information is urged to call Trident's Incident Room on 020 8247 4553 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.