Police say they have 'many theories' about the shootings

Patrols were stepped up in Hoddesdon as a post mortem examination on the victim was due to be carried out.

The 32-year-old man from Stevenage was killed and his friend wounded as they left a gym in the town on Friday morning.

Residents have been told the shooting was almost certainly a targeted attack and that there is no cause for alarm.

Injured man

The victim was killed when two gunmen pulled up next to them in a van and opened fire with what is thought to be an automatic weapon.

The injured man, from London, was not seriously hurt and is helping police with their inquiries.

It would have been easy for the van to park up in a car park which has a good view of the front and then just drive down the road towards them Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Alford

The victim, who lived in Stevenage, will not be named until all his family have been informed.

Hertfordshire's Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Alford said the suspects' van was later found burning in the Lampits area of the town.

The two men were then thought to have made off in a silver saloon car.

Mr Alford said: "This was a calculated attack in cold blood.

"They are clearly dangerous to people like they were targeting today. I don't think they are dangerous to the general public."

'Many theories'

It was not clear at this stage whether the victim and his companion were in a blue Peugeot car or about to get into it at the time of the shooting.

Both men who were shot regularly worked out at the gym which opens early each morning.

They would usually train for an hour and a half before leaving and walking into the street outside.

Mr Alford said he was quite sure the gunman must have been watching and waiting for them.

"These two were often seen chatting outside the fitness centre.

"It would have been easy for the van to park up in a car park which has a good view of the front and then just drive down the road towards them."

He said a drugs-related motive was just "one of many theories" police were considering at this stage.

'Unusual incident'

He said it was "far too early to speculate" on whether is was a contract killing.

There were no descriptions of the suspects because they were believed to have been wearing balaclavas or jumpers pulled over their heads.

Mr Alford urged the public in Hoddesdon not to panic and said the shooting was "a very, very unusual incident" for the area.