Nine-year-old shot dead in Hackney may never be able to ‘speak or move properly’ again | Gun crime

A girl who was shot dead during a family meal in London may never “speak or move properly” again, her parents have said.

The nine-year-old girl was shot dead on May 29 at a Turkish restaurant in Hackney, north-east London, by a man on a motorbike who fired at least four shots towards the restaurant. Her parents were sitting next to her at the time.

In a statement released by the Metropolitan Police, the family said: “We are devastated by what has happened. Our daughter remains stable but in a critical condition.

“She only went there to eat ice cream and now we don’t know if we will ever be able to make our daughter the smart, funny little girl she was before and if she will ever be able to talk or move properly again.”

They added: “We need our child back and we all pray that she makes a full recovery.”

The girl, who lived in Birmingham, had been visiting relatives in London during her half-term break. They were on their way to Evin, a popular Turkish restaurant on Kingsland High Street, when a gunman on a motorbike pulled up at around 9.20pm and fired a volley of shots.

Three men sitting outside the restaurant, aged 37, 42 and 44, were also shot and wounded but were later released from hospital.

The Metropolitan Police have released three new pictures of a motorcyclist they are seeking to locate. The images were taken in the Dalston area before and after the shooting.

DCS James Conway, who is in charge of policing in Hackney, said he was renewing an appeal for information.

“Our investigative team has worked tirelessly to piece together what happened and to identify the dangerous individuals responsible for this shocking and indiscriminate act of violence.

“They are now able to release images of a suspect on a motorbike who they are working to locate. We believe the motorbike was in the Peckham and Crystal Palace areas.

“Anyone who has seen this motorcycle or can help us identify the driver is asked to contact us immediately. Whoever this person is, they are dangerous and must be removed from our streets.”

Conway said the Metropolitan Police were investigating a possible link to organised crime networks originating in Turkey, which he described as a “crucial line of inquiry”.

He asked those with information to “search their hearts” and come forward.

“The injured nine-year-old girl had simply gone out to dinner with her family. She remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition,” he said.

“You may be a friend, partner or family member of someone you suspect may be involved. I urge you to search your heart to understand if your loyalty to your friends or associates extends to covering up for an innocent child who has been shot.”