Kingsland High Street shooting: Injured girl was on holiday

The girl, from Birmingham, was still in hospital on Sunday (June 2) after a bullet struck her as she ate with her family at Evin restaurant, in Kingsland High Street, in Dalston, on May 29.

Her family moved to Birmingham two years ago, and their relatives are in Kerala, southern India, who spoke to the Guardian.

• MOST READ: I visited the triple award-winning north London restaurant that didn't disappoint

Gunshots were fired from a stolen motorbike at 9.15pm on that Wednesday night.

Three men who were sitting outside the restaurant were wounded.

Two men aged 44 and 42 remain in hospital in a stable condition, with one facing life-changing injuries.

The third man – aged 37 – has been discharged from hospital.

Police cordon on Kingsland High Road where the drive-by shooting took place (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

The volley of shots believed to be aimed at an outside table included one bullet that passed through the front of the restaurant and struck the child, who had been “very lively” and happy as she and her family ate at the popular Turkish restaurant, the Guardian said.

Her family are understood to have been visiting friends and relatives in London from their Birmingham home. Family members in India’s Kerala state said they were praying for her in their coastal village near the city of Kochi.

The child’s uncle said her family had moved to Birmingham to work as IT professionals. He added that the seriousness of her injuries had been initially kept from her grandmother.

He said: “We told her it was a minor injury, keeping her even away from local television channels, which are beaming up the news.

"She had an emotional connection with the girl, and they conveyed it over the phone at least every alternate day.”

The family said the girl had already undergone one operation to save her life and that another might be needed. A special church service in the village was to take place on Saturday morning for the girl, who police said on Thursday was nine years old, but who relatives said was 10.

Image of the Ducati Monster motorbike used in drive-by shooting (Image: Met)

Police are keeping an open mind as to the motive, but one theory being examined, which is supported by sources in the community, is that the shooting was linked to a gang feud.

A crime scene remains in place in Kingsland High Street and officers continue to provide reassurance to the local community, supported by armed officers.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said on Friday: "This shocking attack will have had an element of pre-planning. This means there are people who will know something which may be crucial to our investigation.

"Gun crime has no place on the streets of London and this reckless act has left a young child fighting for her life."

He said police were specifically reaching out to Turkish and Kurdish communities, as the three men shot have connections with these communities, particularly in north and east London.

He also said the motorbike used in the shooting was a Ducati Monster, stolen in Wembley in 2021.

The bike has a white body, red chassis and red wheels, and at 9.20pm on Wednesday, when the shooting took place, had the registration plate DP21OXY.

"I am making a direct plea to those with information that might help us to bring those responsible to justice," he added.

There have been no arrests.

Anyone with information can call 101, or the dedicated incident room number 020 8345 3865.