Moment gunmen fires into Dalston restaurant critically wounding girl, 9, as she ate with family

Support truly
independent journalism

Support Now

Find out moreClose

Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.

Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.

Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.

Louise Thomas

Editor

This is the horrifying moment a gunman opens fire spraying a restaurant with bullets and leaving a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life as she ate with her family.

The motorcyclist, on a stolen bike, can be heard firing off five rounds as families dived for cover under the tables or hit the floor in scenes of chaos at Evin Turkish restaurant on Kingsland High Street, Dalston.

Three men, aged 36, 27 and 42, were also rushed to hospital and treated for gunshot wounds after the drive-by shooting.

All of the men are in a stable condition but one of them faces potentially life-changing injuries, according to the Metropolitan Police.

At this early stage, no arrests have been made. The stolen bike was later found dumped at Colvestone Crescent.

A shopworker said a waitress at the Turkish restaurant told her the family were dining al fresco when a motorbike let off five shots.

Were you affected by this incident? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk

She told The Independent: “I heard gunshots – like five. It sounded like pow, pow, pow. I hit the panic button and the shutters came down and I locked everyone inside.

“The waitress told me the family were sitting down and eating when they were shot. There is an outside area. It could’ve been anyone hit.

“I walked past a bullet on the floor and the police told me not to step on it. I was very close. Someone came in, said a child was shot as well. I was on the phone to security and was just crying at the same time.

“It was so scary you have to be worried when passers-by are hit. It could’ve been anyone. This area is always packed with families, especially in half-term.”

Detective chief superintendent James Conway said at a press conference close to the scene: “A nine-year-old girl, who was inside the restaurant having dinner with her family, suffered a gunshot wound and she remains in hospital in a critical condition.

“Our thoughts are with her and her family and they are being supported by specialist officers.

“We do not believe that the girl and the men injured were known to each other. As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime.”

He added: “Events such as these are rarely spontaneous. Someone knows who is responsible for this shooting that has left a little girl fighting for her life.”

Anyone with information that can help police should call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111