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One of the men behind Kent's largest ever heist is fighting for his life after being shot in the neck.
Paul Allen was one of the robbers who carried out the £53m Securitas robbery which happened in Tonbridge in 2006.
Allen was shot when bullets were fired at a house in east London on Thursday.
The former cage fighter is said to be fighting for his life in hospital.
Officers form the Metropolitan Police were called to a property in Woodford Green late on Thursday night.
It is understood six shots were fired at a house Allen, 41, rents from comedian Russell Kane, who has said his thoughts are with Allen and his family.
The convicted robber, who used to live in Hunterfield Close, Chatham, was apparently targeted when six bullets were fired though a conservatory window at the property in Malvern Drive.
Allen is said to be on life support after being shot in the neck during the incident.
It is being investigated by members of the Met's Trident team.
DCI Nicky Arrowsmith of Trident said: "This is a fast paced investigation and officers are following a number of lines of inquiry.
"The shooting took place at a residential property in Malvern Drive.
"Were you in Malvern Drive around that time? Did you see anything unusual or possibly the suspect fleeing the scene?”
Allen, a convicted robber, had been involved in the £53million Securitas robbery in Tonbridge, and was said to be the right-hand man to Lee Murray, the ringleader.
He was given the name The Enforcer for his part in the raid and apparently moved into the London property last year with his wife and children.
The Securitas raid was hailed Britain's biggest cash heist at the time when a gang of men, stole £53million in cash when they piled it into the back of a lorry.
Two of the gang, who were disguised as police officers, stopped depot manager Colin Dixon while he was on his way home to Herne Bay and held him at gunpoint to gain access to the site.
Other members of the criminal gang then took workers hostage while the money was loaded on the truck.
Other robbers, also posing as police officers, kidnapped Mr Dixon's son and wife from their home and took all three of them to a remote farm, where they were put in cages.
Seven men were jailed for their part in the heist and £21million was recovered by police but the £32million was never found.
The gang spent months planning the robbery and some, including Allen fled to Morocco after they had pulled it off, but were later tracked down by police.
Allen was ordered to pay back £1.2million of £1.9million he made from the heist, but has not paid the huge bill.
Murray is serving 25 years in the north African country - but Allen was brought back to Britain where he admitted conspiracy to rob and kidnap and served nine years of an 18-year sentence.
Allen, a father-of-three, claimed he knew nothing about the robbery and jurors were unable to reach a verdict after a first trial at the Old Bailey.
But he admitted charges of conspiracy to rob, kidnap and possess firearms as a re-trial was due to begin at Woolwich Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty on the basis that he was not one of the robbers who entered the depot, or one of the kidnappers, and that he did not handle any firearm.
A Met Police spokesman said: "Detectives investigating a shooting in Woodford Green are appealing for witnesses.
"Armed police were Malvern Drive, Woodford Green at 11.10pm on Thursday, 11 July, following reports of a shooting.
"Officers attended and found a 41-year-old man suffering from gunshot injuries.
The injured man was taken to hospital where his condition remains critical.
"Detectives from Trident and Area Command investigate and retain an open mind as to motive.
"No arrests have been made. Inquires continue."
Anyone who saw this incident or has cctv/dashcam footage is asked to call Trident on 101 quoting 9891/11JUL
To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge
