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United Kingdom

Prominent UK Black Lives Matter activist shot in head had received 'numerous death threats': party

Sasha Johnson is a member of the Taking the Initiative Party's executive leadership committee and is a mother of 3

Stephanie Pagones By Stephanie Pagones Fox News
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The prominent UK Black Lives Matter activist who is in critical condition after she was shot in the head on Sunday had previously received "numerous death threats," according to the group with which she worked. 

The Taking the Initiative Party said Sasha Johnson, who played a leading role in Black Lives Matter protests last year, was shot in the head on Sunday. She underwent surgery on Monday, the party said in a social media post. 

Police and a friend said it did not appear to be a targeted attack, though the party said Johnson had received "numerous death threats" related to her activism before the shooting. 

Johnson was a speaker at rallies last summer and is a leader of the newly founded, Black-led Taking the Initiative Party.

The party said Johnson was "a strong, powerful voice for our people and our community."

One of Johnson’s friends, Imarn Ayton, told the BBC she did not believe Johnson was the intended target.

"As far as we are aware, she was at a party," she reportedly said. "There was a rival gang that may have heard about someone being in that party that they didn’t feel quite comfortable with or trusted and so they resorted to driving past and shooting into the garden, and one of those shots hit Sasha Johnson.

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    A police officer stands guard in a cordoned-off area, close to where activist Sasha Johnson was shot in the early hours of Sunday, in Peckham, London, Monday May 24, 2021. An activist who has played a leading role in antiracism demonstrations in Britain is in critical condition after being shot in London. The Taking the Initiative Party says Sasha Johnson was shot in the head on Sunday. It said Johnson, who played a leading role in Black Lives Matter protests, had received "numerous death threats."  (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)

  • Image 2 of 3

    FILE - In this Saturday, June 13, 2020 file photo Sasha Johnson, center, of the Black Lives Matter movement attends a protest at Hyde Park in London. Johnson, a British Black Lives Matter campaigner is in a critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to her head, a statement from her political party, Taking the Initiative Party, has said. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

  • Image 3 of 3

    FILE - In this June 13, 2020 file photo, activist Sasha Johnson, centre, attends a protest at Hyde Park in London. An activist who has played a leading role in antiracism demonstrations in Britain is in critical condition after being shot in London, her political party says. The Taking the Initiative Party says Sasha Johnson was shot in the head on Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP, File)

"But I don’t believe she was the intended victim."

The Metropolitan Police force said officers were called to reports of gunshots in the Peckham area of the city just before 3 a.m. on Sunday. Police said the shooting took place near a house where a party was taking place.

The police statement said a 27-year-old woman was in a hospital in critical condition after being shot. It did not identify her, but said, "There is nothing to suggest it was a targeted attack or that the woman had received any credible threats against her before this incident."

Detectives have appealed for witnesses and have not made any arrests.

If you've got a story tip, email Stephanie Pagones at stephanie.pagones@fox.com. 

Fox News' Edmund DeMarche contributed to this report, as well as The Associated Press.

Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones.