Hackney shooting: Girl, 9, ‘fighting for her life’ after attack in east London restaurant | UK News

A nine-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot by an attacker on a motorcycle while having dinner with her family.

She was one of four victims injured at around 9.20pm on Wednesday at a restaurant in Hackney, east London.

Police said the girl was “fighting for her life”, while three men sitting outside – aged 26, 37 and 42 – are in a stable condition.

One faces “life-changing injuries”, said Chief Superintendent James Conway.

Witnesses to the incident on Kingsland High Street said they initially thought it was fireworks, before hearing the sound of a motorbike.

Police said the girl was eating inside the restaurant at the time and they do not believe she knew the other victims.

Chief Supt Conway, speaking on Thursday afternoon, said she was an “innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime”.

He said armed officers were patrolling locally as part of an increased police presence to provide “security and support”.

A stolen motorcycle believed to have been used in the shooting was found nearby.

At Evin, the Turkish restaurant where the shooting occurred, plates of food and half-empty beers were still on tables Thursday morning.

Chairs appeared to have been pushed aside in panic and paramedics’ plastic gloves were on the floor behind police tape.

The Metropolitan Police said they are open-minded about the motive and want any witnesses – and anyone with video or photos – to contact them.

“Some know who was responsible. This was a shooting that left a little girl fighting for her life,” said Chief Supt Conway.

“If you have any information that could help us with the investigation, please do the right thing and contact us.”

The London Ambulance Service said an air ambulance trauma team was among several resources sent to the scene.

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