London gang feud linked to deadly shooting

Police link a long running feud between Hackney Turks and Tottenham Turks to a road map of violence that traumatized a child.

The Turkish gang war behind the shooting of a nine-year-old girl

Police say a gunman riding a stolen Ducati Monster pulled up outside the Evin restaurant in Kingsland High Street, Dalston, and fired six shots in two seconds. The attack targeted a group at an outside table, and a nine year old girl was hit in the head. Doctors rebuilt her skull with titanium and she spent more than three months in hospital. The child has life long physical and cognitive difficulties ahead. Prosecutors described the incident as an assassination attempt aimed at Hackney Turks members who were sitting at the table.

Javon Riley, 33, has been found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent for helping to carry out the attack. He refused to name the person who hired him. Police say the assault fits a pattern of tit for tat violence between the Hackney Turks and the Tottenham Turks, two north London groups tied to drug trafficking and a long history of killings that stretches over two decades. The investigation traces leadership figures and violent episodes through London to Moldova and Turkey, underlining the international reach of the feud.

The Dalston shooting shows how organized crime groups operate across borders. The Hackney Turks and Tottenham Turks built a web of drug routes and money flows that extend beyond London, and civilian streets have become a stage for their rivalries. Experts warn that violence feeds on itself, and leaders sending a message can trigger months or years of retaliation that communities absorb first. The case also exposes the difficulty of breaking a cycle when information and witnesses are hard to secure.

Policy makers face a difficult balance between policing and community safety. Solutions must go beyond raids to include social programs, witness protection, and better international cooperation to disrupt trafficking networks. The incident also raises questions about how media coverage and public messaging affect immigrant communities. Real progress will require sustained effort, not quick headlines, and a focus on preventing violence before it reaches the street.

Highlights

The city will watch closely to see if joint police and community actions can disrupt a cycle that has stretched across years.