Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage to come forward following a series of linked firearms incidents in east London that took place over the same weekend.

In the first incident at around 23:00hrs on Friday, 7 February, three men – all aged 18 – were in a cab in Evelyn Road, Newham when they noticed two males riding a moped.

They were not immediately concerned but then realised the moped had apparently taken an interest in them and followed their cab to Hanameel Street and on to Barking Road.

While the car was stationary at a traffic light, the moped riders approached and flashed what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun at them before making off. One of the males reported that the firearm had been discharged.

On Saturday, 8 February at around 20:20hrs, a 28-year-old man was in his car in Freemasons Road, Newham, returning home from shopping, when he became aware that he was being followed by two males riding a moped.

The victim made a number of turns to try to evade the suspects but was followed into Goodwing Close, where he panicked and collided with a parked car.

The suspects got off the moped and asked the victim his name and where he was from. The victim noticed one of the suspects was holding what appeared to be a shotgun.

They stole his watch and designer bag from him but threw them back at him before getting back on the moped and fleeing.

In the last incident at around 20:50hrs on the same evening, two men and a woman, all aged in their early 20s, were in a car waiting for a friend in Shipman Road E16, near Prince Regent Lane.

As the friend arrived and got into the car, a moped pulled out in front of the car and the riders shouted ‘where are you from?’

Fearing for what was about to happen, the driver accelerated away. One of the victims described that one of the suspects was holding a firearm with a long barrel.

The victims made their way to a place of safety where they would discover what appeared to be a number of holes and cracks in the windshield that detectives believe may have been caused by shotgun pellets.

None of the people involved in any of the incidents were injured.

At this stage there have been no arrests.

Both of the suspects wore dark clothing.