Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward a week on from a drive-by shooting which still leaves a young girl fighting for her life.
At around 9.20pm on May 29, a lone motorcyclist fired a number of shots towards the Evin restaurant, in Kingsland High Street, Dalston.
A nine-year-old girl was hit by a bullet while having dinner with her family inside the building and remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Three other men aged 44, 42 and 37 who were sitting outside were also shot but have since been discharged from hospital.
The suspect was riding a Ducati Monster motorbike with a white body, red chassis and red wheels.
In 2021 it was stolen from a Wembley property and at the time of the shooting, was displaying the registration plates DP21 OXY.
Over the last week, there have been additional patrols conducted by local officers, supported by colleagues from the Met’s Turkish Police Association and specialist firearm officers, providing reassurance and a visible presence in the local area.
This evening, June 5, officers will be in Dalston speaking to the local community and conducting a witness appeal.
Det Ch Supt James Conway, local policing lead for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “Our investigation team has been working tirelessly to piece together what happened and to identify the dangerous individual responsible for this shocking and indiscriminate act of violence.
“We will always be directed by the evidence and a critical line of enquiry has been the potential link to Turkish-originating organised criminal networks."
He said the incident had left Turkish and Kurdish communities shocked and appalled but also asks that anyone from these communities who may have information about the shooting or the events leading up to it, to please come forward and speak to police.
He said the young girl, who was reportedly in London on a half-term holiday, continued to fight for her life and the attack has had a "devastating impact" on her family, who are being supported by liaison officers.
"It is therefore important we find out the details of the individual who carried out this horrific attack and those involved in the planning," he added.
He urged anyone knows who was involved, to "do the right thing" and share the information with police completely anonymously.
“I urge you to search your heart to understand if your loyalty to friends or associates extends to covering up for an innocent child being shot."
Anyone with information should call 101 or the dedicated incident room on 020 8345 3865 or pass information on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online via crimestoppers-uk.org.
Information can also be shared directly with the police via the dedicated online portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/01MPS24W56-PO1
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