The café killer who said hello

The gunm an is believed to have walked up to the victim and said "Hello" before cocking his revolver and shooting him in the back of the head.

He then ordered staff to call the police before sitting down on the café floor and waiting for officers to arrest him, witnesses have claimed.

The victim is believed to be in his thirties and has not yet been formally identified.

The drama unfolded just before 4pm yesterday afternoon at the D A Sandwich & Café in Court Road, Mottingham, south-east London.

Witnesses described how the victim had walked in with a friend and ordered two cups of coffee before sitting down. The gunman is then understood to have entered, said hello to his victim, before walking behind him, pulling out a revolver and shooting him in the back of the head.

A café employee who witnessed the shooting escaped and the owner, who had been out buying milk, returned to the scene before being told to call the police by the gunman.

A friend of the owner told the Evening Standard: "The victim and his friend sat down and the gunman walked in, said 'Hello' to them and walked to the back of the shop where he loaded his revolver.

"As he walked back to the table the other man saw he had a gun and ran out and the victim was shot in the back of the head.

"He then said, 'Call the police, I have killed someone', and sat on the floor with the gun in his hand." The 38-year-old owner of the café, who did not want to be named, said: "When I came back I was faced with a man with a gun in his hand." The café was about to close for the day and a witness who saw the gunman being arrested said: "The man got dragged out of the café and handcuffed. It did seem to take a long time though before the police arrived."

A Met spokeswoman said officers had to "assess the situation" before going inside the café.

She said police were called at 3.45pm to reports of a man with a revolver, and the man was arrested at 4.10pm.

She added: "We believe we know who the deceased is but we await formal identification." A man in his forties has been arrested and is in custody.

Anyone with information should phone Greenwich Police on 0300 123 1212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.