Girl, 11, shot in home attack

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SYDNEY - A gunman is on the run after wounding a girl when he recklessly fired about a dozen bullets from a handgun into a house with eight children inside.

The 11-year-old was hit in the right thigh when the man fired into the house in Roberts Road, Greenacre, in Sydney's southwest, while a family of 10 were inside at 10.30pm local time on Monday.

Police say that when the children's father answered the door, the gunman asked for a man who did not live there. The father heard several shots coming through the door after closing it.

Police Superintendent David Eardley said it was probably a case of mistaken identity or mistaken address. The family did not know the name mentioned by the gunman, he said.

The gunman is believed to be about 20 years old, 175cm tall, possibly of Pacific Islander appearance. Police say a red Holden Commodore found on fire nearby soon afterwards may be linked to the shooting attack.

The girl was in a stable condition after surgery at the Children's Hospital at Westmead.

- AAP