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The Australian government has called for a thorough investigation after a 9-year-old Australian girl was fatally shot by a police officer who mistook her for a suspect during a robbery in Pakistan.
According to reports from AFP and Australian SBS News on June 16 (local time), police in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province stated that officers responding to a robbery report last week engaged in a shootout with suspects, during which the Australian girl was killed.
At the time, two suspects on a motorcycle had taken a family in a rental car hostage and threatened them with firearms.
When police arrived, the suspects fled on their motorcycle, and the driver of the rental car also attempted to drive away from the scene.
The Punjab Police Crime Investigation Agency explained in a statement, "In the ensuing chaos, an officer mistakenly believed the suspects were fleeing in the victims' car and opened fire."
The statement added, "Due to this misjudgment, 10-year-old Hania tragically lost her life, and her father and brother were injured."
Hania's father and brother sustained serious injuries, while her mother was reported to be unharmed.
Punjab police have received a formal complaint from the victim's father and have arrested the officer involved in the incident.
Australian media reported that Hania's family, from Perth in Western Australia, was visiting relatives in Pakistan at the time of the incident.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese corrected the age provided by Pakistani police, telling reporters, "The victim was 9 years old," and added, "We expect an appropriate investigation to take place regarding this incident."
"As I understand it, not only has a young girl lost her life, but other family members have been injured as well," he added, calling it a "tragic situation."
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that it is providing consular assistance to the victim's family.
A Punjab police official said, "We are conducting a thorough and impartial investigation," adding, "While officers work in very dangerous environments, there is no justification for violating regulations."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.