A nine-year-old girl was shot three times with airgun pellets in what police are treating as a racially aggravated assault in Bristol, leaving the traumatised child too frightened to leave her home.
Police were called to Chakeshill Drive in the Brentry area of Bristol at 1.30pm on Thursday, 2 September, where they discovered the young victim had been struck by pellets fired from an air weapon. The attack has been classified as racially aggravated after “a racial comment was made during the incident,” according to Avon and Somerset Police.
The child suffered soreness from the pellet strikes but escaped serious physical injury. However, police confirmed she has been left “traumatised” by the ordeal and is now too frightened to venture outside her home.
Detectives have launched an urgent manhunt for the primary suspect, described as a white male aged between 17 and 18 years old. He stands approximately 5ft 11in tall, has dark blonde hair and a slim build. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a distinctive blue padded coat and riding a black electric scooter with white writing.
Police believe a second offender was also involved in the attack, though details about this individual remain limited.
Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector Keith Smith condemned the assault, stating: “This is a deeply troubling incident targeting a young child and we understand the impact this has had, not only on the victim and their family but also the wider community.”
He added: “Officers are actively pursuing lines of enquiry and there will continue to be reassurance patrols in the area. We would also like to stress that at this time we do believe this to be an isolated incident and would encourage anyone with pertinent information to come forward.”
The victim and her family have been referred to Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI), a Bristol-based charity that has supported victims of hate crime across Avon and Somerset for over 30 years. The organisation provides free, confidential support to anyone targeted because of their race, faith, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity, age, gender or sex.
SARI offers practical advice on keeping safe, engages with police and other agencies on victims’ behalf, and provides emotional support to affected families. The charity’s casework service covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed: “We have launched an investigation into the incident, are supporting the victim and her family, and have referred them to Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) for support. CCTV and house-to-house enquiries have been carried out.”
The incident has sparked concern in the Brentry community, a suburban area in north Bristol. The attack comes amid rising concerns about hate crimes across the UK, with disability and race-related incidents making up the highest proportion of reported hate crimes nationally.
Bristol, which has a population exceeding 500,000, is the largest city in the South West and has seen its population grow by 10.3% since 2011. The city has a White British majority at 77.9%, with Black British residents comprising 6% of the population and Asian British residents at 5.5%, according to the most recent census data.
The force has increased patrols in the area to provide reassurance to local residents whilst the investigation continues. Officers are particularly keen to trace anyone who may have seen the suspects in the area before they donned face coverings or immediately after the incident.
Police are urgently appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage from the area at the time of the incident or the moments immediately before and after. They stress that even seemingly insignificant details could prove crucial to the investigation.
Under UK law, a crime becomes a hate crime when motivated by hostility or prejudice based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. Hate crimes carry enhanced sentencing guidelines, reflecting their impact not just on individual victims but on entire communities.
The use of air weapons in criminal incidents has been a growing concern for police forces across the UK. Whilst many airguns do not require licensing, their misuse can result in serious criminal charges, particularly when used to target individuals in unprovoked attacks.
Chief Inspector Smith emphasised the force’s commitment to the investigation: “We understand the impact this has had, not only on the victim and their family but also the wider community. Officers are actively pursuing lines of enquiry.”
The incident has prompted calls for increased vigilance from parents and community leaders in the area, with local schools being briefed about the attack and advised to review their safety procedures.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101, quoting reference number 5225247677, or complete the online appeals form on the force’s website. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The police have emphasised that whilst they believe this to be an isolated incident, they are taking it extremely seriously and will continue enhanced patrols in the area until the suspects are apprehended.
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