A gangland boss linked to a drive-by shooting that left a young girl fighting for her life has been arrested in Turkey.
The nine-year-old was eating dinner with her family at a restaurant when a gunman on a motorbike opened fire in Kingsland High Street, Dalston.
She was left with life-changing injuries on the evening of May 29 last year.
It is believed the youngster may have been caught in the crossfire of two rivals gangs known as the Tottenham Turks and the Hackney Bombacilar, which means bombers in Turkish.
Since then, a senior member of the Tottenham syndicate Izzet Eren, 41, was shot and killed sitting outside a cafe in Chisinau, Moldova last summer in what is believed to be a tit-for-tat murder spree.
Rival crime boss Kemal Armagan, of the Hackney Bombers, has been held in the Turkish port of Izmir, the Daily Mirror reports.
He is suspected of killing Eren and is already wanted for two other murders.
Reports identifying the suspect only as “KA” said a 43-year-old man had been hiding in the city under a false identity for 10 years.
He faces prosecution in Turkey for an alleged killing but could now face extradition for the murder of innocent north London shopkeeper Ahmet Paytak, 50, who was gunned down inside the Euro Food and Wines store on Hornsey Road in March 2009.
The rival Kurdish gangs, who once dominated the UK heroin trade, have been at war for at least 16 years.
The Metropolitan Police and Interpol were approached for comment. Scotland Yard said it is a matter for the Turkish authorities at this stage.
A man was charged in August with four counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting.
Three men – aged 36, 35 and 28 – were arrested last month for conspiracy to murder. They have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Scotland Yard confirmed the girl’s loved ones were informed of the arrests and continue to be supported by specially trained officers.
Three other men were injured in the shooting, the force added.
Detective Chief Inspector Ben Dalloway, who is leading the investigation, said: “A little girl’s life was traumatically changed on the evening of Wednesday, May 29.
“The dangerous individual responsible for those life-changing injuries remains on our streets, and people out there know who pulled the trigger.
“This investigation is not slowing down. We need to hear from those who have information about the identity of an individual seen on a motorcycle in Kingsland High Street at the time of this offence, or if anyone has seen the same model of Ducati Monster.
“We recognise people may be apprehensive about sharing information but it is imperative they do so. They do not need to speak directly to the police.”
