Girl, three, is shot in park with air rifle

A GIRL aged three has been shot in the stomach with an air rifle while playing in a park with her family.

The child was running from her mother to her grandfather in Hanworth Park, west London, when she was struck by the pellet and began bleeding.

She was rushed to hospital, where she underwent surgery and spent two days recovering from her injury.

The Metropolitan Police said the little girl could have been killed.

Detective Constable Helen Larson said: “This was a horrific incident and we are appealing for anyone with information to contact police.

“This shooting could have been far worse, possibly fatal and we need to find the person or persons responsible. The little girl had to spend two days in hospital following surgery to remove the pellet.

“She has now been released from hospital and is making a good recovery and her parents have told us she is well in herself. We have trawled CCTV and conducted searches of the area but this far have not found any leads which may help us identify who was responsible.”

DC Larson said a group of boys were seen running from some bushes near where the incident took place.

She appealed for anyone who saw the incident, which happened at around 6pm on August 20, to come forward.