Man jailed for murder of Daniel Namanga in Peckham

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed for murder of Daniel Namanga in Peckham

A man who stabbed a teenager to death outside a nightclub in Peckham has been jailed for his murder.

Dickson Tangu, 22 (04.10.95) of Wilkinson Gardens, Croydon, was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 23 years, at Inner London Crown court today, Friday, 9 February.

Tangu was found guilty of murder and possession of a knife at the same court on Tuesday, 6 February.

Police were called at around 02:00hrs on 8 August 2017, to reports of a disturbance in the area of Ilderton Road and Old Kent Road, SE15.

Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service where they found 19-year-old Daniel Namanga suffering from a stab injury. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 02:05hrs.

A post-mortem examination was carried out later that day gave cause of death as single stab wound to the chest.

Daniel had been with friends at a club night at the Afrikiko Bar and as the event finished, he became involved in an altercation outside. This quickly escalated and Daniel was chased before being stabbed. He collapsed a few metres away. Tangu fled the scene.

Tangu was arrested at his home on the morning of 11 August 2017. He refused to answer any questions, and was subsequently charged with murder.

In a statement following Tangu’s sentencing, Daniel’s family said: “Thank God our prayers have been answered and justice has been served.”

Detective Sergeant Rob Tickle, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Dickson Tangu chose to carry a knife that night and did so with the full intention of using it. He struck a singular, forcible and violent blow to Daniel’s chest. He never recovered from the injuries he suffered and sadly, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he died at the scene.

“Tangu is a dangerous individual, embroiled in a culture of violence in which he has shown a complete disregard for human life, including whilst at court. The jury took just two hours to reach its verdict.

“I would like to pay tribute to the strength of Daniel’s family, in particular his mother, Sally, who has shown immense courage, dignity and strength throughout. The family particularly want to thank the emergency services personnel who fought hard to save Daniel’s life, the criminal justice system and the investigation team whose commitment, hard work and determination ensured that Tangu was convicted.”

Police made eight other arrests in connection with this investigation. They were all released with no further action

Body found in search for missing woman

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Body found in search for missing woman

Police were appealing for information on the whereabouts of Alice Hart, 23, who was missing from Fulham.

Officers were called at 09:57hrs on Friday, 9 February to reports of a body of a woman found at a reservoir in Lonsdale Road, SW13.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

While formal identification awaits, Alice’s family has been informed of this development.

At this early stage in the investigation, the death is being treated as unexplained.

Enquiries continue.

Officers injured whilst detaining two teenagers

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Officers injured whilst detaining two teenagers

Police have arrested two teenagers after two police officers became injured while searching a suspect.

Three officers were in a fully marked police vehicle in Farmfield Road, Downham, when they spotted two teenagers who matched the description of suspects involved in an attempted burglary that happened nearby about 15 minutes earlier.

An 18-year-old male [A], and a 14-year-old male [B], were detained for the purpose of a search when [B] made-off on foot.

[A] then began struggling with officers and injured a male officer and a female officer in the process. The male officer’s hand was slashed by a knife during the struggle.

The officers, both attached to the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, were treated for their injuries at a south London custody suite. Neither required hospital treatment.

[A] was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, and grievous bodily harm. He was taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody.

Officers carried out a search warrant at an address in Bromley where they located [B]. He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and possession with intent to supply a Class B drug. He was taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody.

Officers from Lewisham are investigating.Enquiries continue.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Robert Revill of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “This incident is a reminder of the dangers that police officers face on a daily basis while carrying out their duties protecting Londoners.

“Policing is by its very nature unpredictable – however no officer should be subject to such a violent attack.”

Man jailed after deliberately driving car at victim, E14

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Man jailed after deliberately driving car at victim, E14

A man who deliberately drove a car into a person who had complained about noise at a party, hitting three of his own family members in the process, has been jailed.

Yasin Ahmed, 23 (03.09.94), of Florida Street, E2 was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 9 February after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving and three counts of assault at the same court on Wednesday 17 January.

Ahmed was also disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170.

The court heard how on Monday, 7 August 2017, at approximately 20:15hrs, Ahmed was at a party on Gaverick Mews, E14 when a neighbour complained about the noise.

In an attempt to intimidate the neighbour, Ahmed got into a Ford Fiesta and reversed the car into the direction of the man.

He then turned the car around and drove into the neighbour at speed.

The victim, a man in his 40s from the Isle of Dogs suffered broken ribs while three of Ahmed’s family members received minor injuries from the ordeal.

Officers from Tower Hamlets arrested Ahmed on 8 August and he was charged the following day.

DC Michael Dixon of Tower Hamlets CID, who led the investigation, said: “Not only did Ahmed hit three of his own family members, mobile phone footage showed him being just feet away from hitting a number of young children too.

“Ahmed is incredibly lucky he did not kill someone. He is a dangerous individual and London is now a safer place with him off the streets and behind bars.”

Appeal for information following serious RTC

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal for information following serious RTC

Detectives are appealing for information following a serious collision on Merton Road junction with Lebanon Gardens, SW18, on Wednesday 7 February.

Police were called shortly after 20:43 hours to reports of a vehicle colliding with a pedestrian.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene.

The pedestrian, a woman in her 80’s was taken to a south London hospital, where she remains in a stable condition, with serious leg injuries.

The male driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene and assisted police, he was not arrested.

Detectives from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command are investigating. They would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit based at Merton on 020 8543 5157 or via @MetCC

Appeal following assault outide Leicester Square club

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal following assault outide Leicester Square club

Detectives are appealing for information after a man was punched in the face outside of a Leicester Square club in an unprovoked attack.

An image of a man wanted for questioning with this incident has been released today, Friday, 9 February.

Police in Westminster were called to Ruby Place, Leicester Square after the 29-year-old male victim was assaulted. He was taken to hospital for treatment and lost several teeth as a result of the incident.

T/DC Monica Zuccaro, from the Serious Crime Unit at Westminster said: “This was a nasty attack that left the victim with considerable injuries. If you have information that can assist police I would urge you to get in touch.”

Anyone who recognises this male or has any information that may assist police, is asked to call the Serious Crime Unit at Charing Cross Police Station on 0207 321 7647. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can also tweet police via @MetCC

Appeal for witnesses to Croydon robberies

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal for witnesses to Croydon robberies

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information following a series of robberies where the victims have been threatened with a firearm.

Officers from Croydon CID are investigating five night-time robberies which occurred in different parts of the borough between Friday, 2 and Monday, 5 February.

The victims were all sitting in their vehicles at the time of the attacks. On three of these occasions, private hire vehicles have been targeted.

In each robbery, the victim has either had a firearm pulled on them, or the suspects have made threats that they have a firearm without one being seen.

None of the victims were injured.

Detective Inspector David Willis, of Croydon CID, said: “We are appealing for anyone with information to contact us. If you were in the area at the times of the robberies and saw, or heard, anything out of the ordinary, please come forward. If you have private CCTV in any of these roads we would like to hear from you because even if you haven’t captured the crime, you may have recorded the suspects approaching or leaving.

“Although there have been no injuries at this point, the impact of being a victim of a violent crime runs far deeper than injuries alone. The nature of these incidents and the potential that the firearm could be real makes it vital that we identify the people responsible as soon as possible.

“It is important that we remain vigilant to any potential danger that may undermine our safety, and report anything that looks suspicious.”

The five robberies took place across Croydon on the following dates:

– At 23:40hrs on Friday, 2 February on London Road in Norbury;
– At 21:25hrs on Saturday, 3 February on Falkland Park Avenue in South Norwood;
– At 22:35hrs on Saturday, 3 February on Duppas Avenue in Croydon;
– At 00:55hrs on Monday, 5 February on Berne Road in Thornton Heath; and,
– At 01:35hrs on Monday, 5 February on King’s Road in South Norwood.

Anyone with information should call officers at Croydon via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference ‘Operation AMAY’.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Three men jailed for firearms offences

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Three men jailed for firearms offences

Three men and a woman have been jailed for a total of 29-and-a-half years for firearms offences after the discovery of a handgun and ammunition at an address in east London.

On Thursday, 8 February all four defendants were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court as follows:

Spencer Tapper, 27 (02.10.80) of School Road, Dagenham was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for two counts of possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of ammunition.

Sandy Hunter, 33 (30.10.84) of Goresbrook Road, Dagenham, was handed a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for assisting an offender.

Mahesh Chaitoo, 28 (23.10.89) of Beresford Road, Southend-On-Sea was sentenced to five-and-a-half years imprisonment for possession of a firearm.

Aymon Popo, 33 (9.10.84) of Highfield Road, Romford, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years imprisonment for conspiracy to possess a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

They pleaded guilty to all the offences on Monday, 29 January. 

Detective Inspector Tim Grinsted, who led the investigation, said: “Firearms pose a significant danger to the public and we are delighted that we’ve been able to take them off the streets.

“This was a very complex investigation, with the defendants carrying and exchanging firearms across London and Kent. Their sentences reflect just how serious the courts take this type of offending.

“Gun crime of any kind will not be tolerated and the Trident and Area Crime Command is committed to reducing offending linked to firearms and removing them from criminal circulation.”

The court heard how on 16 November 2016, officers from the Met’s Trident and Area Crime Command executed a search warrant at a residential address on Goresbrook Road in Dagenham.

During the search, officers discovered a handgun containing 15 rounds and a further 20 rounds of ammunition within a grey holdall bag in a bedroom.

Hunter was arrested at the address on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition and was charged later that day.

Officers discovered that Hunter had been in contact with Tapper via WhatsApp and linked him to the investigation.

It was later identified that Hunter was holding the gun and ammunition on Tapper’s behalf.

On 19 February 2017, Tapper and Chaitoo travelled to Ramsgate in Kent to collect a handgun.

During the journey back to London, Tapper arranged for Chaitoo to drive with the firearm in a different vehicle in an attempt to protect him from being caught in possession of the gun.

They were stopped by police on the M2. A handgun and 42 rounds of live ammunition were discovered in the boot of one of Chaitoo’s vehicle.

Following police enquiries, officers linked Popo to the investigation. He was arrested and charged on 18 August 2017 for being the conduit who arranged for Chaitoo to transport the firearm on Tapper’s behalf and conspiracy to possess a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

​ Counter terrorism police praise man who helped convict terrorist supporter

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: ​ Counter terrorism police praise man who helped convict terrorist supporter

Police have praised a man who alerted UK authorities to a suspicious message online – an action which led to the conviction today of a man for two counts of encouraging terrorism and one count of supporting a proscribed organisation.

Kingston Crown Court heard how the witness, who lives outside the UK, emailed the Home Office in March 2017 after receiving a private message on Facebook, from someone he did not know, inciting him to join Daesh.

The matter was referred to the national Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit – a team of Met Police officers who specialise in identifying and seeking the removal of terrorist material online. Their enquiries established the message was from Mohammed Kamal Hussain, 28 (11.05.89) a Bangladeshi national overstaying his UK immigration visa and living in east London.

They identified that Hussain had posted a number of messages on Facebook which glorified the violent activities of the terrorist organisation Daesh.

A fast-time investigation was launched by the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command who arrested Hussain on 30 June 2017.

Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This investigation started with one conscientious individual trusting his instincts and reporting something suspicious. He could have ignored the message Hussain sent him but instead he took a screenshot of the message and contacted the UK authorities immediately. It is in great part thanks to him that police were able to bring Hussain to justice.”

Detectives trawled thousands of messages Hussain had sent on Facebook, Telegram and Whatsapp. Among them were Facebook posts encouraging terrorism, including a speech from the so-called “leader” of ISIS, Abu bakr al Baghdadi.

Hussain has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at Kingston Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.

Commander Dean Haydon said: “I encourage anyone who sees something online that they have even the slightest feeling could be terrorist- or extremist-related, to follow this example. Please report it to police via the ACT website. We have a team of specially trained officers who will look at everything that is reported and decide if action is required.

“Hussain was actively seeking to recruit Daesh followers. We know from the disturbing material we found on his devices that he supported Daesh. The material included videos of barbaric Daesh violence and warped reasoning for killing people, including children and Muslims.”

To report material online, simply fill in the confidential form at www.act.gov.uk

+ Hussain was found not guilty of engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism or assisting others to commit such acts, namely engaging in research and planning against persons in the UK.

+ Mohammed Ashfaq, 31 (18.05.86) of east London was found not guilty of one count of encouragement of terrorism.

Two men jailed for offences at Notting Hill Carnival 2016

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Two men jailed for offences at Notting Hill Carnival 2016

Two men who stabbed and seriously wounded three young men at the Notting Hill Carnival in 2016 have been jailed for a total of 30 years.

The men were both convicted of grievous bodily harm at the Old Bailey on 15 December 2016.

Eddie Mombele, 24 (05.11.93) of Talbot Road, W10 was found guilty of three count of causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a flick knife.

Jordan Clarke, 20 (01.03.97) of Adair Road, W10 was found guilty of three counts of causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a ‘zombie’ knife.

The incidents took place on 28 August 2016 between 16:15 and 17:10hrs at the Notting Hill Carnival.

In the first incident, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed three times in the abdomen, buttocks and arm on Wornington Road at the junction with Golborne Road at approximately 16:15hrs. The victim needed emergency surgery and was in hospital for two weeks following the assault.

The next two incidents took place a short time later in quick succession on Ladbroke Grove at approximately 17:10hrs. The first victim, a boy aged 16, received a serious stab wound to the stomach. The other victim, aged 15, was stabbed in the leg, requiring stitches.

Following the stabbings, an investigation was launched by detectives from the Met’s Notting Hill Post-Investigation Team. One of the victims was able to point out Mombele and Clarke as the men who attacked him from images posted on Instagram. Another victim described Clarke and his distinctive scar over his left eye. Local officers were also able to identify suspects from the Instagram photos.

On 14 September 2016, officers executed two warrants at the home addresses of Mombele and Clarke, and the men were arrested. A large 12″ ‘Zombie / Rambo’ knife was seized from Clarke’s home; this weapon was believed to have been used in all three stabbings.

Detective Inspector Driss Hayoukane, of the Met’s Notting Hill Post-Investigation Team, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of all three victims of these horrendous assaults. They all stood up and gave evidence in court against their attackers. Sunday at Notting Hill Carnival is traditionally Children’s Day – a happy event to be enjoyed by thousands of children and their families – however, these two men came to Carnival armed with a ‘zombie’ knife and a flick knife, intent on seriously injuring innocent Carnival goers.

“During the trial, Clarke did not give evidence and Mombele gave evidence denying the offences and blaming Clarke for the assaults. One of the victims spent two weeks in hospital and it is only due to the skill of the surgeons that he has made a good recovery.”

The judge said: “It’s actions like this which could negatively affect the future of Carnival.”

She also praised the hard work of the officers on the case including PC Sam Hart.

Mombele and Clarke were sentenced as follows:

– Count 1 (stabbing): 15 years imprisonment;
– Count 2 (stabbing): 12 years imprisonment to run concurrently;
– Count 3 (stabbing): eight years imprisonment to run concurrently;

Mombele and Clarke were also sentenced to two imprisonment, to run concurrently, for possession of the knives.