A nine-year-old girl is in critical condition following a shooting at a restaurant in East London on Wednesday night The incident, which occurred around 9:00 PM (2000 GMT), also resulted in three men being injured.
According to the Metropolitan Police, a gunman on a motorbike fired at diners, hitting the young girl who was inside the restaurant with her family. The men, aged 26, 37, and 42, were seated outside the establishment in Hackney when the shooting occurred.
James Conway, Detective Chief Superintendent of London’s Metropolitan Police, described the girl as an “innocent victim” of the attack. He emphasized that there was no known connection between the girl and the injured men. “As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime,” Conway stated.
The men are in stable condition, although one of them may face life-changing injuries, according to police reports.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward expressed the shock and concern felt by the community. “We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight,” he said.
The UK is known for having some of the strictest gun control laws in the world, and gun ownership is highly regulated. Possession of a firearm with the intent to endanger life is a serious offense.
Despite these strict regulations, the Metropolitan Police recorded 199 shootings in London between January 2023 and 2024. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of gun violence in the city.
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