Eight arrested in hunt for killer of British girl shot in Jamaica

Imani Green, eight, was killed when a gunman opened fire at her cousin’s shop in the rural village of Duncans on Friday.

Three of her relatives are recovering in hospital after they were wounded in the hail of bullets.

Police believe the killing could have been a revenge attack by gangsters on the Caribbean island.

Imani, who suffered from the blood condition sickle cell anaemia, is not believed to have been the target.

Deputy Superintendent Steve Brown, from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, said that eight suspects were being questioned.

He has dismissed suggestions linking the shooting to gang warfare.

“Over the last 24 hours there have been some developments where the police have taken eight persons into custody, and we’re confident we will make a breakthrough on this one very soon,” he said.

“We’ve heard about gang warfare, but we find it a bit difficult to believe because where the incident took place it is a sleepy community; nothing happens there.

“This is just an isolated incident, but it could well link to a number of things, and we are looking at all possibilities and following all the leads that we are getting.”

Imani, from Balham in south London, was shot twice in Friday’s attack – once in the head and once in the shoulder.

She had been given extended leave from Fircroft Primary School in Tooting to visit Jamaica and take advantage of the warmer climate.