The ‘real’ target of a shooting in Hackney which has left a little girl fighting for her life in hospital says he wishes he was shot in the head instead.
Beytullah Gunduz, 37, who has links to the Turkish criminal world was eating at the Evin restaurant in Dalston, east London.
He left for just 15 minutes and came back to find three of his friends with gunshot wounds a young girl, nine, shot in the head.
The girl who moved from India to the UK two years ago is in a serious condition in hospital.
Gunduz has been a victim of a previous attack when he was shot in the neck by rival gang the Tottenham Turks.
He himself has been cleared of organising a hit for his gang the Hackney Turks.
The Times reports he told a friend ‘that little girl is an innocent person’.
He said: ‘If these people knew I was there why didn’t they wait until I left and walked around the corner?
‘We can be criminals but this girl wasn’t, she didn’t do anything wrong.
‘It is killing me inside. The waiting to know if she is going to live is too much – I am heartbroken.
‘I wish I was still sitting there and the bullet had gone in my head.’
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He believes the attack is linked to a previous shooting in 2020 when a gun jamming allowed him to escape.
The hitman was on a motorbike when he shot at those eating in the restaurant.
Diners dived under their tables as he opened fire before the hitman fled down the road.
Two of Gunduz’s friends who were shot in the attack have been released from hospital.
Mustafa Kiziltan, 37, who was jailed in 2019 for his involvement in an acid attack, was discharged on Friday.
The third is expected to remain for two weeks.
The young girl is on a ventilator after doctors were unable to remove the bullet on the first attempt.
A diner at the restaurant told the Hackney Gazette he used his coat to stop the bleeding on someone’s leg.
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.
‘I’d say it was around 10 to 15 minutes when the emergency services arrived. Police first, then NHS staff. They were very efficient.’
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: ‘We remain in close contact with our colleagues in the NHS who have worked around the clock to provide urgent care to the victims, including the young girl who I am very sad to say remains in a critical condition.
‘Our investigation continues at pace, with a dedicated team of detectives piecing together the facts and an unrelenting focus on tracing those responsible.’
He revealed the bike used in the shooting on Wednesday, which has since been recovered, was a Ducati Monster with a white body, red chassis and red wheels.
The motorbike had been reported stolen from the Wembley area of London in 2021 and at the time of the shooting had the registration plate DP21 0XY.
Mr Conway appealed for anyone who has information on the bike to come forward, adding: ‘This shocking attack will have had an element of pre-planning.
‘This means there are people out there who know something which may be crucial to our investigation.
‘Gun crime has no place on the streets of London, and this reckless act has left a young child fighting for her life.’
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