A prominent British Black Lives Matter activist is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot in the head in London, her political party says.

Sasha Johnson, 27, is in intensive care after being “brutally attacked and sustained a gunshot wound to her head”, according to the Taking The Initiative party.

London’s Metropolitan Police released a statement saying the shooting occurred near a house in Southwark, in the city’s south-east, where a party was taking place.

Taking The Initiative Party said Ms Johnson, a mother of two children, was a “strong, powerful voice for our people and our community” and the shooting followed “numerous death threats as a result of her activism”.

She gained prominence as an organiser and speaker at Black Lives Matter protests around the United Kingdom in 2020.

Tweet from @ukblm

“Sasha has always been actively fighting for black people and the injustices that surround the black community, as well as being both a member of BLM and a member of Taking the Initiative Party’s executive leadership committee,” the party statement said.

The police said the force’s Specialist Crime Command was investigating the incident and that early information showed the shooting to be random.

“While the investigation is at an early stage, there is nothing to suggest that the woman who was shot was the subject of a targeted attack or that she had received any credible threats against her prior to this incident,” the statement said.

Detective Chief Inspector Jimi Tele asked people not to speculate about the motive or circumstances behind the incident.

“This was a shocking incident that has left a young woman with very serious injuries. Our thoughts are with her family who are being provided with support at this terribly difficult time,” he said.

-ABC