This is the shocking moment when an unknown suspect fired three gunshots into the car of a 51-year-old woman in an apparent attempted murder.

Police were called at 8.40am on May 14 with reports of a shooting at the junction of Beverley Drive and Stage Lane in Brent.

A 51-year-old woman reported leaving her home at around 8.30am to go to work when a man wearing a balaclava approached her car at the traffic lights firing three shots at the vehicle.

Her driver’s window smashed with the first shot and two more shots were fired shattering the passenger window. The suspect then ran away before getting into an unknown car and driving in the direction of Queensbury Station.

Police recovered three bullet casings from the scene.

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned man, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and of medium build. He may have had short dreadlocks.

His face was partially covered by a balaclava and he was wearing a dark coloured zip up tracksuit top with the hood up and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Officers from the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command are investigating.

Detective Inspector Tom Williams said: “This was an outrageous and brazen attack that happened in the middle of rush hour on a Monday morning, in which luckily, no one was injured.

“Firearms have absolutely no place on London’s streets and we are carrying out a full and thorough investigation into locating this man and making sure that he appears before the courts.

“We are following numerous leads but are also appealing for anyone with any information to contact us as soon as possible.

“On this occasion, no one was physically harmed, but no doubt the traumatic experience will affect the victim for years to come.”

Anyone with any information is urged to call the incident room number on 020 8201 2713 or tweet @MetCC and quote 1541/14May. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.