Powerful front page calls on Liverpool to give up gunman who shot dead Olivia Pratt-Korbel

Criminals in Liverpool are being urged to turn in a masked gunman who killed a nine-year-old girl after bursting into her home, with one arrest made over the incident.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel died on Monday after a 35-year-old man, unknown to the family, ran into her terraced house in Kingsheath Avenue, in the Dovecot area of Liverpool, in an attempt to get away from a gunman.

Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was shot in the wrist as she tried to close the door while Olivia, who was shot by the same bullet, stood behind her.

The man who had entered her home suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body and, as Olivia lay dying, was picked up and taken to hospital by friends in a dark-coloured Audi, which has since been seized by police. Olivia was taken to Alder Hey Hospital but later died.

On Wednesday, the 35-year-old man targeted by the gunman was arrested for breaching the terms of his release from prison and will be questioned in relation to her murder.

Read more: Olivia Pratt-Korbel shooting timeline - How horror in Liverpool unfolded

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said on Tuesday that the “shocking” incident “crosses every single boundary” as the force appealed to the “criminal fraternity” in Liverpool for information.

Chief Constable Kennedy told a press conference: “This is a shocking and appalling attack which will reverberate around our communities, and I want to take this opportunity again to appeal to anybody who knows who was responsible for this attack to please come forward and give us those names.

“We need to find all who are responsible for – not just the gunman, we need to find who supplied the weapon and who arranged this terrible incident.”

The Liverpool Echo said the killing had “shocked the city” and made a passionate front page appeal for help, by telling its readers to “imagine the agony of Olivia’s family as they are told she did not make it – murdered in her own home”.

The newspaper stated: “Imagine knowing something about this unspeakable crime but keeping quiet because you would rather surrender our city to the thugs than to get justice for Olivia.

“If this is you, ask yourself … whose side are you on?”

Ms Kennedy said: “We will not rest until those who are responsible are put behind bars. I can guarantee that no stone will be left unturned.”

On Wednesday, Merseyside Police said the 35-year-old man targeted by the man who fatally shot Olivia had been arrested breaching the terms of his release from prison and will be questioned in connection with the her murder.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said that the 35-year-old had allegedly breached his licence conditions with “poor behaviour” and had been detained in hospital.

Watch: Police call on criminal to 'examine their consciences' over Olivia Pratt-Korbel shooting

A statement from the force said: “A 35-year-old man, suspected to have been the target of the shooting, has been detained in hospital on a prison recall after breaching the terms of his licence.

“He will be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his licence. He will be further questioned in connection with the murder and remains in a stable condition.”

Boris Johnson described the shooting as an “unimaginable tragedy” and promised police would get “whatever they need to catch those responsible”.

The killing happened exactly 15 years after 11-year-old Rhys Jones was fatally shot Croxteth, Liverpool, on his way home from football practice.

Officers from Merseyside Police carried out a series of raids targeting gun crime in the city on Wednesday as tributes continued to pour in for the schoolgirl.

The BBC reported two sources had come forward and given police the same name for the gunman.

Meanwhile, Labour/Co-op councillor for Knotty Ash told Sky News that the community has given to police investigating the shooting.

Barbara Murray, Labour councillor for the Yew Tree ward in Liverpool where Olivia lived, repeated police calls for anyone with information to come forward.

She told BBC Breakfast: “Coming forward, you don’t have to go to the police. (Liverpool) has got 90 councillors, I think any one of them would liaise with police on behalf of anybody who wants to give information.

“Really strongly, I would say people can use Crimestoppers. It’s an anonymous phone call. You don’t have to give information about yourself.

“When something like this happens, it’s always the case, someone, somewhere will know who (the perpetrator) is.”