Harvey Nichols gun deaths probed

Police were still at the store on Wednesday morning

Police are trying to find out why a man apparently walked into an exclusive London department store and shot a shop assistant, before killing himself.

A woman who worked in the beauty department with the victim said she had had problems with an ex-boyfriend.

"It was well-known he was stalking her and pestering her with phone calls," said 22-year-old Heather Chulu.

The gunman opened fire on the ground floor of Harvey Nichols, in Knightsbridge, at 1945 BST on Tuesday.

Both he and the victim, aged 30 and 22 respectively, were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither has been formally identified.

The ground floor remains sealed off but the store opened as usual on Wednesday morning.

I was looking at my watch, ready to go home, then bang, bang, bang - four gunshots downstairs Harvey Nichols employee

A woman, who did not want to be named, said: "When we heard what happened, it sounds like something out of a story book or a film, not something out of real life."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the shooting.

Police vans lined Knightsbridge on Tuesday night and officers blocked side entrances to the famous store, as well as one Tube exit at Knightsbridge station.

Police are not looking for anyone else over the shooting

Some staff and witnesses described hearing gunshots and fleeing in panic.

A 26-year-old employee said: "I was looking at my watch, ready to go home, then bang, bang, bang - four gunshots downstairs.

"A girl got shot. There were shoppers still walking around totally unaware.

"It was really scary. There was no announcement. We just heard people screaming and ran."

The five-storey department store started out as a small linen shop in a terraced house in 1813 but has become a well-known luxury brand.

It has opened other stores in Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham as well as some overseas stores.