A child and two adults who were among four shot after a motorbike hitman opened fire on a Turkish restaurant in Dalston ‘were from the same family’.
Officers were called at around 9.20pm last night to reports of a shooting near Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street.
Eye-witnesses revealed how diners dived under their tables in terror as a motorcycle drove by and sprayed bullets in their direction before speeding away down the road.
Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries. Police say the child is in a serious condition, the other victims’ conditions are unknown. A large cordon remains in place this morning focused on Evin.
Describing the shooting, one resident said: ‘I don’t know who [they were] targeting – but for a child to be hit? It’s just horrendous. I also heard that two of the adults hurt are the child’s parents, but I’m unsure.’
The man, who did not want to be named, added: ‘I doubt anyone will give you their names – not when this could be gang violence.’
A diner who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting told the Hackney Gazette how everyone dived under the tables during the ‘chaos’ and he used his coat to stop the bleeding on someone’s leg.
‘There was a big group having dinner in the rear,’ he said. ‘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.’
After everyone scrambled on to the floor, the man saw that someone was injured and he used his coat to stop the bleeding on 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.’
A second resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘It’s so awful. I live just down the road so it’s really shocking to hear.
‘I only found out when I walked up here this morning to get my hair cut. To hurt a kid? I mean it’s messed up.
‘It’s the way the world is going these days and I worry if things will continue to get worse.’
Dave Evans told how he had walked passed the Evin Bistro just minutes before the violence erupted.
Mr Evans, 62, said: ‘I was out last night walking my dog. I must have walked passed Evin five minutes before the shooting.
‘I was down the road when I heard the noise. There were six shots. I knew they were gun shots immediately.
‘I walked back up there before the police got there. It was horrendous. There were bodies on the floor. Blood. It was awful.’
Cafe workers told how the Evin Bistro is owned and run by a Turkish family and is popular with local residents.
A waitress, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I know the family at Evin. They are nice people. What happened there is terrible! Shocking! I heard that oriole got shot and a baby! Who can shoot a baby?’
Other residents claimed the shooting could be linked to a dispute between rival drug gangs.
One said: ‘It’s got to be a drugs hit.’
Today half eaten food and drinks remained on tables at the Evin Bistro. A half drunk glass of beer, abandoned coffee cups and a plate of mixed starters could be seen behind the police cordon.
Blood splatter in the floor could be seen amongst the upturned tables and chairs at the popular Turkish cafe.
A paramedics green first aid bag and discarded medical gloves were also abandoned at the scene.
Local John Thompson, 57, who has lived in Dalston all his life, claimed parts of the area used to be off-limits due to crime – but it has improved in recent years.
‘Sandringham Road – in the cordon – used to be a massive no-go zone,’ he said. ‘Murders, shootings, stabbings – everything. But I do feel like things have gotten better in the past years, so I’m quite surprised to see this.
‘But let’s be honest – it’s Dalston. There are still bad pockets. Like, if you have something expensive on you, just don’t come in the area. I had my bike stolen in the middle of the day – in front of everyone. But this? This is just awful. Horrific.’
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.’
Another 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.
Martha, a nearby resident on the high street told MyLondon that she heard four shots: ‘We heard the shooting and we saw people coming gathering there and we saw ambulances and police cars but nothing else.’
‘You don’t really realise or think that it’s gun shooting. We heard noise – it could be a car, it could be anything. We were worried but not straight away. Then we saw people shouting and the ambulance so then we started to realise. It came out of nowhere.’
Miklos, a nearby resident of 20 years: ‘Its shut down like this maybe once every two months’
When asked if he thought it was gang violence: ‘Well that’s what came to mind right away. If it’s not then it’s even worse’
Do you feel safe living here? ‘No not so much anymore because I’ve got a child as well, I just dropped her in nursery.’
A nearby cafe worker said: ‘The shooting came from someone on an electric bike. it was automatic shooting, multiple shots. And innocent people got hit. One of them was targeted, there were three adults and a child’
Local shopkeeper on Kingsland High Street Tahir Sandh told MyLondon at these scene: ‘How can it be possible? We are in London and somebody comes and shoots people. It gives me a very unsafe feeling.’
Earlier this morning, forensic officers were pictured outside the Turkish restaurant gathering evidence as a police cordon remains in place on Kingsland High Street.
Yesterday night officers, including specialist firearms officers, and London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene.
The three adults and child were all taken to a major trauma centre at an east London hospital after the attack.
Officers are working to establish the circumstances of this incident. No arrests have been made at this time and the shooter is still at large.
Kingsland High Street is closed in both directions between Dalston Lane (Dalston Junction) and Crossway / Shacklewell Lane while police investigate. This means several London bus routes have been diverted, namely the 67, 76, 149, 236, 243 and 488.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, said: ‘We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight.
‘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.