The parents of a nine-year-old girl who was shot in the head in a shooting in east London say she will never be able to ‘talk or move properly’ again.
He was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant in Kingsland High Street, Dalston, on May 29 when a lone motorist fired ‘several shots’ into the building. The teenager remained in critical condition 49 days after the attack.
In a statement from the family, released through the Metropolitan Police, they said: ‘We are devastated at what has happened. Our daughter remains stable but in critical condition.
‘She only went there for ice cream and now we don’t know if we will be able to get our daughter back to the smart, cute girl she was before and if she will ever be able to talk or walk again.’
He added: ‘We need our child back and we are all praying for her full recovery.’
The update on the little girl’s condition comes as the Metropolitan Police released new photos of the motorcyclist they want to trace in connection with the shooting.
The three pictures were taken in the Dalston area, before and after the incident.
Three people sitting outside the restaurant – aged 37, 42 and 44 – were also shot but were released from hospital a few days later.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: “I am making a new appeal for information in relation to a shooting in Hackney on Wednesday 29 May, which left three people injured and a nine-year-old girl in a critical condition.
“Our investigative team has been working hard to piece together what happened and to identify the dangerous individuals responsible for this horrific and wanton act of violence.
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‘They are now able to publish a picture of the suspect on a motorbike which they are doing. We believe the motorbike has been in the Peckham and Crystal Palace area.’
Mr Conway added: ‘Anyone who saw this motorbike or who can help us identify the rider is asked to contact us immediately.
‘Whoever this man is, he is dangerous and must be removed from our streets.’
The update from Scotland Yard comes after it was reported that the gang leader suspected of being behind the shooting was shot in Moldova.
Tottenham Turks boss Izzet Eren, 41, was shot seven times as he sat outside a cafe in the capital Chisinau on Wednesday.
One of the targets of the Dalston shooting is thought to be a member of the Hackney Bombers gang who was earlier shot in the neck by a man suspected of being a member of the Tottenham Turks.
Mr Conway said the Met was investigating a ‘critical line of inquiry’ – a potential link to an organized criminal network originating in Turkey.
‘The nine-year-old girl who was injured was just out for dinner with her family. He remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition,” he said.
‘You may be a friend, partner or family member of someone you suspect may be involved. I urge you to search your heart to understand that loyalty to a friend or friend goes beyond covering up for an innocent child to be shot.’
Contact the news team by emailing webnews@metro.co.uk.
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