A child and three adults have been left fighting for their lives in hospital after a horror drive-by shooting in Dalston, as the hunt continues for the motorbike hitman.
Officers were called at around 9.20pm last night to reports of a shooting near Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street.
Eye-witnesses say a motorcycle drove by and sprayed bullets in the direction of the diners, before speeding away down the road.
Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries. The condition of the three adults is unknown. They have all been taken to a major trauma centre at an east London hospital, where the child remains in a critical condition.
Earlier this morning, forensic officers were pictured outside the restaurant gathering evidence as a police cordon remains in place on Kingsland High Street.
Police guard the cordon at the scene in Dalston, east London, this morning after a ride-by shooting last night
Forensic officers pictured earlier this morning gathering evidence on Kingsland High Street
Forensic officers pictured outside Evin restaurant, where a horror drive-by shooting took place
Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries at the scene. They have all been taken to a major trauma centre
One eye-witness who was on Kingsland High Street after the shooting posted a video to social media, saying: ‘Someone just got shot five times in Hackney, Dalston.’
Police sirens can be heard in the background as a large group of people stand outside Evin restaurant.
Another eye-witness, who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting, told the Hackney Gazette it was ‘busier than usual’ before the incident occurred.
He said: ‘There was a big group having dinner in the rear. I couldn’t get my usual table so got one close to the front window.
‘The big group paid up and left and shortly afterwards that’s when the loud bangs – which were obviously gunshots – happened.’
He said that everyone dived onto the floor and under the tables, adding it was ‘chaos’.
Seeing that some were injured, he said that he used his coat to stop the bleeding at a leg wound.
He continued: ‘I’d say it was around 10 to 15 minutes when the emergency services arrived. Police first, then NHS staff. They were very efficient.’
Eye-witnesses say it was a motorcycle that drove by and sprayed bullets in the direction of the diners, before speeding away down the road
One eye-witness, who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting, told the hackney Gazette it was ‘busier than usual’ before the incident occurred
Officers were called at around 9.20pm last night to reports of a shooting near a restaurant on Kingsland High Street
Another person Antonia, who did not want to share her last name, was in Nandos at the time and said she heard five or six gunshots and saw a motorcyclist speeding away.
She said: ‘At first everyone didn’t think it was [a shooting], it sounded like a car not working, but we were in Nando’s and we just saw people running past.
‘Everyone stepped out to look and we could see loads of people surrounding that shop.
‘The police took ages to come and prior to that we saw the motorcyclist. He went around Nando’s on that road.’
‘We kind of just wanted to get out of there.’
Officers, including specialist firearms officers, and London Ambulance Service attended.
Officers are working to establish the circumstances of this incident. No arrests have been made at this time.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, said: ‘We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight.
Emergency services attended the scene where three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries
‘Our thoughts go to all those affected. Fast moving enquiries are under way and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 9.21pm on Wednesday 29 May to reports of a shooting on Kingsland High Street, Hackney.
‘We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers and members of our tactical response unit.
‘We also dispatched a trauma team from London Air Ambulance, which consisted of a doctor and a paramedic in a car.
‘We treated three adults and one child at the scene before taking them all to a major trauma centre.’
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.
