Family say 9 year old shot in Dalston may never speak again
Detectives have released photos of a motorcyclist they want to trace.
Last updated 17th Jul 2024
The family of a 9 year-old girl injured in a restaurant shooting say she only went there for ice cream and now they don't know if she'll ever speak or move properly again.
She remains in a critical condition in hospital after a motorcyclist fired shots into a building in Dalston, east London in May.
Police believe it's linked to Turkish gangsters and have appealed for help finding the rider.
Today, Detectives have released three images of a motorcyclist they are working to trace in relation to the shooting.
The three new images were captured in the Dalston area. The image captured from behind the motorcyclist was just before the incident happened, while the two others were captured post-incident.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, lead for policing in Hackney:
"Whoever this person is, they are dangerous and must be removed from our streets." - Met
"I am making a renewed appeal for information relating to the shooting in Hackney, on Wednesday 29 May, which left three men injured and a 9-year-old girl in a critical condition.
“Our investigation team has been working tirelessly to piece together what happened and to identify the dangerous individuals responsible for this shocking and indiscriminate act of violence.
"They are now in a position to release images of a suspect on a motorcycle that they are working to trace.
"We believe the motorcycle has been in the Peckham and Crystal Palace areas.
"Anyone who saw this motorcycle or who can help us identify the rider is urged to contact us immediately.
"Whoever this person is, they are dangerous and must be removed from our streets.
“We will always be directed by the evidence and at this time, a critical line of enquiry has been the potential link to Turkish-originating organised criminal networks.
"The nine-year-old girl who was injured was simply out having dinner with her family. She remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.
"She only went there for ice cream and now we do not know if we will ever get our daughter back to being the smart, funny girl that she was"
“You might be a friend, partner or a family member of someone that you suspect may be involved. 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.
“It is very clear that this attack has had a devastating impact on the family. On their behalf we ask that their privacy is respected in such difficult circumstances.”
The parents of the girl have asked us to read the following statement on their behalf: "We are devastated about what has happened, our daughter remains stable but in a critical condition. She only went there for ice cream and now we do not know if we will ever get our daughter back to being the smart, funny girl that she was before and whether she will be able to ever speak or move properly again.
"We need our child back and we are all praying for her full recovery, please respect our wishes for privacy for ourselves and the rest of the family at this difficult time."
DCS Conway added: "In addition to my direct appeal to those involved or close to those involved, I would also ask that anyone from our communities who may have information about the shooting or the events leading up to it, to please come forward and speak to police."
Anyone with information can call 101 or our dedicated incident room on 020 8345 3865 or pass information on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online via crimestoppers-uk.org.