LONDON: Following a hair-raising murder incident within the Sikh community in Seven Kings, east London on Sunday, January 19, a man has been charged by homicide detectives from the Specialist Crime Command, while one man arrested remains in custody from the same community.
According to Met Police, two men [A and B] were arrested following the deaths of three men, aged 29, 30 and 38 years. [A] Gurjeet Singh, 29, of South Park Crescent, Ilford was charged on 21 January with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. He was due to appear in custody at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 22 January. He remains under investigation in connection with the murders, while the other 39-year old man remains in police custody.
Detectives are in the process of establishing formal identification and ensuring that all next of kin have been informed. Enquiries around motive for this incident continue, however we do not believe it to be gang related. Officers at this stage are not seeking to make any further arrests for murder.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3865 or to remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The deaths are not thought to be gang related and officers “are not seeking to make any further arrests for murder”, the force added.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine, who is leading the investigation, said: “We now believe all those involved were known to each other and from the Sikh and Hindu community. In the beginning he had said; “At this early stage, I do not believe this was gang or race-related. But, I believe there may have been an ongoing dispute between those involved. We believe the five men were involved in an altercation the previous evening at Krystel Banqueting that spilled out onto the High Road.
“I would encourage anyone in the local communities who knows what the motivation for this attack was, or to anyone who may have seen an altercation late on Saturday evening at Krystel Banqueting, or the incident itself on Salisbury Road, to contact us and tell us what they know.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman, commander of the Met’s East Area BCU, said: “Residents in and around the Seven Kings area will see extra officers on patrol; if you have any concerns, or information that could assist the investigation, please stop and speak to them.
“We are working closely with our partners and members of the community to reassure them that we are fully investigating this incident.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3865 or stay anonymous by contacting the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Vigil
A vigil was organised and held by Singh Sabha on Tuesday night for the three men who were stabbed to death during a brawl in Elmstead Road. According to police, those involved were known to each other and from both Sikh and Hindu communities.
According to Ilford Recorder report, the Sikh community have condemned sensationalist national media reports which suggested the incident was gang-related. Speaking at the vigil, a spokesman for Singh Sabha London East said: “Obviously we are very distressed. Shockwaves have gone through the community.
As a Sikh community, we are even more upset at the way the media has treated us.”When a tragedy like this happens, they are very quick to say it was Sikh gangs, which it totally false and untrue. Up and down the country, the Sikh community are very distressed by this, even more so that the media treated us in such a bad manner. We are not happy with this, that’s why we are here today.”