Girl, 9, fighting for life after motorbike gun attack on east London restaurant

A nine-year-old girl is in critical condition after she was shot by a hitman on a motorbike while she ate with her family inside a Turkish restaurant.

- Emine Sinmaz and Vikram Dodd

Witnesses told of scenes of terror after shots were fired from the motorbike, which pulled up outside Evin restaurant in Dalston, northeast London, letting off a volley of at least four rounds at about 9.20pm on Wednesday.

The restaurant owner told the Guardian he saw a man on the motorbike as diners dived for cover, and that the wounded child had been "very lively and happy in the moments before the shooting".

She was shot in front of her parents, with her mother distraught as her daughter lay critically wounded.

Parts of the incident, including the motorbike pulling up outside the restaurant, have been captured on CCTV, which detectives are examining.

Three men dining outside, aged 26, 37 and 42, were hit and wounded. At least one bullet entered the popular Turkish restaurant on Kingsland High Street, seriously wounding the girl.

Police do not believe she was known to the three men who were shot. Police said the injured adults were stable but one of the men had sustained life-changing injuries.

Police believe the attack was probably planned. The motorbike they believe was used in the attack was found abandoned a short distance away, in Colvestone Crescent, about 200 metres from the scene.