Hackney shooting: Manhunt for motorbike hitman as girl, 9, is fighting for her life

A nine-year-old girl is fighting for her life after a horrific drive-by shooting in Hackney where bullets were "sprayed" at the restaurant she was eating at with her family.

In a press briefing this afternoon Detective Chief Inspector James Conway said the youngster, who is in critical condition, was shot while dining at the restaurant in Dalston.

He added: "It saddens me deeply to say that at about 9.20pm last night three men and a nine-year-old girl were shot when a firearm was discharged from a motorbike. Local people will be concerned by this incident, we share this concern. An urgent investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible

"Three men aged 26, 37 and 42, who were sitting outside a restaurant, were taken to hospital for gunshot wounds. They remain in a stable condition but one has potentially life-changing injuries.

"A nine-year old girl who was having dinner in the restaurant with her family remains in critical condition with a gunshot wound."

The Metropolitan Police were called at around 9.20pm on Wednesday night to a shooting in Kingsland High Street, Dalton, west of Hackney in east London.

A hitman is reported to have opened fire on a Turkish restaurant, before fleeing. The child's condition is said to be most serious, with three other adult victims in hospital with gunshot injuries.

Specialist firearms officers scrambled to the scene, where a large cordon was erected, but no arrests have yet been made, the force said.

An eyewitness, speaking to the Hackney Gazette, said everyone "dived under tables" after the loud sounds of gunshots were heard, describing the scene as "carnage".

Another, talking to MyLondon, added: “The shooting came from someone on an electric bike. it was automatic shooting, multiple shots. And innocent people got hit."

One nearby resident said: "We heard noise - it could be a car, it could be anything. We were worried but not straight away. Then we saw people shouting and the ambulance so then we started to realise. It came out of nowhere.”

Shopkeeper Tahir Sandh said: “How can it be possible? We are in London and somebody comes and shoots people. It gives me a very unsafe feeling.”

It has also been claimed a diner's coat was used to stop the bleeding of a victim. Deputy assistant commissioner Matt Ward said: "We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight.

"Our thoughts go to all those affected. Fast-moving enquiries are underway and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us."

Posting on X, Ayo Adsina shared a clip showing large numbers of people at the scene plus police vehicles, commenting: "Someone just got shot 5 times in #hackney dalston." He later told the BBC: "I arrived maybe about four, five, six minutes after it happened.

"People were just silent, like someone was trying to help... people just seemed stunned and trying to work out what was happening."

Discussing the "reckless" attack, he added: "Literally anyone could have got shot." Other diners claim a child sustained a gunshot wound to the head, but the Met Police are yet to confirm this.

Anyone with information which can help police is being asked to call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 9.21pm on Wednesday 29 May to reports of a shooting on Kingsland High Street, Hackney.

“We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers and members of our tactical response unit.

"We also dispatched a trauma team from London Air Ambulance, which consisted of a doctor and a paramedic in a car.

“We treated three adults and one child at the scene before taking them all to a major trauma centre.”