Category: United Kingdom

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Deshaun James-Tuitt in Islington have charged a further three teenagers with his murder.

A 16-year-old male [E] and a 17-year-old male [F] were charged with the murder of Deshaun James-Tuitt on Thursday,19 October. They appeared in custody at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 20 October and will next appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 24 October.

A 16-year-old male [G] was charged with murder on Friday, 20 October. He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Corner on Saturday, 21 October and will also next appear in custody at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 24 October.

Previously, three males – [A] aged 16; [C] aged 15 and [D] aged 15 – were charged with murder. They will next appear in custody at the Old Bailey on 4 December.

Deshaun died after being stabbed in Highbury Fields, Islington on 4 August 2022.

Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances of Deshaun’s murder and urge anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact police on 020 8345 3865, call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 7948/04AUG.

You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, responsible for policing in Croydon, said: “This incident caused a great deal of concern in the community when it happened and when a video showing part of the events was shared on social media. The incident was clearly distressing for the woman involved and particularly her child.

“Because of that concern, we made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct which is now carrying out an independent investigation.

“We are co-operating fully with the investigation and are aware of today’s update from the IOPC.

“It is important the incident is thoroughly investigated to understand what happened. As the IOPC has stated, the launching of a criminal or misconduct investigation is not in itself a finding of wrongdoing and we await its conclusions after all the available evidence has been gathered and fully examined.”

The incident happened on Whitehorse Road, Croydon, on 21 July as officers from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command were supporting Transport for London revenue inspectors in the area. TfL inspectors were checking tickets as part of their fare evasion operation, with police only becoming involved where details were not provided or where someone tried to leave when challenged.

The woman involved in this incident was asked to provide her ticket after she got off the bus, but did not do so. She was spoken to by a TfL inspector, then by a PCSO and finally by a police officer. She continued to try to walk away and did not provide her ticket for inspection.

She was arrested on suspicion of fare evasion and was handcuffed. When officers were able to take her ticket from her so that the TfL inspectors could check it, they were able to confirm it was valid. She was immediately de-arrested and her handcuffs were removed.

Throughout the incident, the child was comforted by a PCSO who immediately recognised his distress. We regret any impact it may have on him.

We met with the local community within days of the incident and continue to speak with key community leaders to listen to their concerns and provide updates.

The officer, a PC, will remain on restricted duties while the investigation is carried out.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives are becoming extremely concerned for the welfare of a south London man who has been missing for almost a week.

Justin Henry, 34, was reported missing to police on Monday, 16 October. He has links to the SE23 area and was last seen in person on the evening of 15 October at the address of his partner in Brixton. He was later seen on CCTV in Croydon.

He has not been seen or heard from by his family since that time, and this is out of character.

This remains a missing person investigation led by detectives from the Met’s South East BCU, however colleagues from Specialist Crime have been providing additional support since 18 October.

Police are actively trying to establish Justin’s movements, in particular late on Sunday, 15 October, and in the early hours of Monday, 16 October.

At around 21:50hrs on Sunday, 15 October, Justin was seen on CCTV buying food at a McDoanld’s drive-thru restaurant in London Road, Croydon. At this time we believe Justin drove from that restaurant to a nearby location in Croydon where his vehicle, a silver Mercedes E Class, remained for approximately two and a half hours.

The Mercedes was later found in Kingswood Drive, SE19. It is unclear who was driving the vehicle when it arrived at Kingswood Drive due to indistinct CCTV image of the driver, but Justin’s family state that it is not him.

DCI Matt Coop of the Met’s South East CID said: “Based on the available evidence this remains a missing person enquiry, however my concern that Justin has come to harm is, sadly, increasing with every day.

“The investigation team continue to be assisted by officers from Specialist Crime, including forensic specialists. Justin’s family are being supported by specially trained officers.

“We are now appealing to the public for their assistance. I need to hear from anyone who may have seen Justin over the past week. We are particularly interested in any information about Justin’s movements after leaving McDonald’s last Sunday night (15 October), and I also want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious or heard a disturbance.

“If you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please call police or to remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.”

The police investigation continues and there are currently a number of active lines of enquiry being progressed. One person has been arrested in connection with this investigation and has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in January 2024.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or post @MetCC quoting reference CAD 5224/21102023. To provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers please call 0800 555 111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives in Tower Hamlets are appealing for witnesses as they investigate the circumstances around the death of a man in Tower Hamlets.

Police were called at 07:11hrs on Wednesday, 11 October to reports of a body in the water in the Regent’s Canal, near Rhodeswell Road in Limehouse E14.

The body of a man was recovered. The man is Ali Liaquat, 55, who lived in the E14 area.

His next of kin have been informed. A post-mortem has taken place which showed no signs of injuries that may have resulted in his death.

While the death is not being treated as suspicious at this time, officers are working to establish how Ali came to be in the water and are pursuing a number of enquiries.

Officers from the Central East Command Unit are asking anyone who may have seen Ali in the time before his death – especially in the vicinity of Turners Road and Rhodeswell Road – to make contact.

Please call 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 1199/11 Oct, or to remain 100% anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Officers have been overseeing the demonstration organised by Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain throughout the day (Saturday 21 October) alongside the much larger protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

In addition to officers deployed with the protest, we have counter terrorism officers with specialist language skills and subject expertise working alongside public order officers in our main operations room, assessing any video and photos that emerge.

They have reviewed a video from the Hizb ut-Tahrir protest in which a man can be seen to chant ‘jihad, jihad’.

The word has a number of meanings but we know the public will most commonly associate it with terrorism.

Specialist officers have assessed the video and have not identified any offences arising from the specific clip. We have also sought advice from specialist Crown Prosecution Service lawyers who have reached the same conclusion.

However, recognising the way language like this will be interpreted by the public and the divisive impact it will have, officers identified the man involved and spoke to him to discourage any repeat of similar chanting.

We are also aware of photos from the same protest showing signs and banners referring to ‘Muslim armies’.

While there are varying interpretations of what the language on the placards should be interpreted to mean, officers must take decisions based on the wording actually used.

Again, this was subject to a careful assessment and no signs or banners were identified that were unlawful.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives have named a man who died in a stabbing in west London as they continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward.

At 18:42hrs on Thursday, 19 October, a police car was flagged down by a member of the public who found a man with stab injuries on Kensal Road, W10.

Officers carried out first aid and called for support from paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.

Despite their efforts, the 36-year-old man died at the scene.

Whilst formal identification awaits, he has been named as Tyrone Pinnock. His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and would like anyone with information about what happened to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson, who is leading the investigation, said: “This happened in the early evening on a busy footbridge that crosses Harrow Road. Several people have spoken to us already and I want to hear from anyone who saw the incident or has any information that could help our investigation.

“Were you travelling on Harrow Road between Bravington Road and Third Avenue between 5pm and 7pm? If so we would like to hear from you and view any dash cam footage you may have.”

There have been no arrests at this time.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 6212/19Oct. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been charged with murder following his extradition from Sweden.

Sabajet Shuti, 30 (4.07.93) was charged in the early hours of Saturday, 21 October with the murder of Zeqja Lumturi.

He was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm [in relation to a second victim], violent disorder and possession of a knife.

He appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 21 October and will next appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 24 October.

Police were called at 22:59hrs on 16 October 2022, to reports of a fight on Church Lane, E11.

Officers attended the location along with London Ambulance Service and found two injured men, both aged in their 20s.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, 27-year-old Zegia died at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 7352/16Oct22. To remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Three men have been convicted of the murder of Taylor Cox in Islington after an investigation by the Met.

[A] Jaden McGibbon, 22 (19.06.01), of Warltersville Road, N19, [B] Robel Michael, 22 (07.06.01), of no fixed address, and [C] Sichem Mangituka-Mpelo, 22 (09.07.01), of Holloway, were found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday, 20 October.

They were remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 15 December.

A fourth person, Dunia Oukili, 22 (28.05.02), of Harrington Square, Camden, was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “This was a targeted attack on a young man who should have had the rest of his life ahead of him.

“It saddens me to see so many young lives cut short by violence on the streets of our capital and I hope these convictions, and the loss of freedom the defendants are about to face, serve as a warning to any others who think that conflict of any kind can be resolved with weapons and violence.

“My thoughts are with Taylor’s family. While nothing can bring him back, I hope that today’s guilty verdicts bring them a degree of satisfaction.”

Police were called at 16:24hrs on 8 June 2021 to reports of a shooting in Hornsey Rise Gardens, N19. Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.

They found 19-year-old Taylor, who was from Barnet, suffering gunshot injuries. He was taken to hospital where we later died.

A post-mortem examination 11 June 2021 found he died as a result of gunshot wound to the head.

After shooting Taylor, the suspects fled the scene. McGibbon’s girlfriend, Oukili, booked a hotel room and bought a mobile phone in an attempt to help him evade arrest.

Officers would later find spent ammunition cartridge cases in Oukili’s handbag that was of the same calibre to those used in the shooting.

During the investigation detectives trawled through hours of CCTV footage and found images of McGibbon riding a bicycle shortly before the report of shots fired was made to police, just before the murder he covered his face with a balaclava.

Despite his efforts to avoid capture, McGibbon was arrested on 12 June 2021 and was charged with murder the following day.

Michael was arrested on 4 August 2021 and was subsequently charged with murder.

Mangituka-Mpelo was arrested on 23 August 2021 and was subsequently charged with murder.

Taylor’s father, David Campbell, said: “The whole family are grateful that we come to this conclusion and are thankful for the efforts of the police in all the work they did to convict the defendants. Despite the guilty verdict, it still doesn’t help the pain that knowing we won’t see Taylor again causes us”.

Do you know about someone who is involved in violent crime? If you have information that could help keep your community safe, but don’t want to speak to police, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They do not ask your name and cannot trace your call or I.P address.

Any young people who have information about violence or knife crime, can visit www.fearless.org where they can pass on information anonymously – your I.P address will not be traced. Fearless is part of the Crimestoppers charity, and is also independent of the police.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating a fatal collision in Pinner are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

The collision took place shortly before 11:00hrs on Friday, 14 April at George V Avenue and involved a black coloured Smart car and a pedestrian on the northbound carriageway.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. The pedestrian, a 66-year-old man was taken to a north London hospital where he remained in a critical condition until he sadly died on Thursday, 1 June.

The man’s family is aware and they continue to be supported by specialist officers.

Detective Sergeant Rebecca Collens of the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “I know that some time has passed since this collision, but it is my feeling that if you witnessed it, you would certainly remember it.

“I am very keen to hear from anyone who has information that could assist my investigation – no matter how insignificant it may seem. If you saw this collision or have footage please don’t hesitate to reach out.”

A 48-year-old man, the driver of the Smart car, was interviewed under caution. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has footage should call police on the witness appeal line 020 8246 9820. You can also call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC quoting 2425/14APR.

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man has been bailed after being arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas at a demonstration in central London earlier this week.

A 31-year-old man was arrested by officers on suspicion of displaying an banner supportive of a proscribed organisation (under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000).

The arrest was made in the Whitehall area on Tuesday, 17 October, during a pro-Palestine demonstration.

He was later further arrested on suspicion of inviting support for a proscribed organisation (under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000).

The man was taken into custody at a London police station, and later bailed to a date in November.

As part of the investigation, being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, officers conducted searches at addresses in east London and in County Durham.

Enquiries are ongoing.