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| VIGILANTES GO AFTER
TEEN GANG |
Armed men take law into own hands
after rampage
Armed men take law into own hands after rampageANGRY vigilantes
sought “rough justice” on the streets of Holloway on Monday
night after a gang of teenagers went on the rampage, smashing windows
and brutally beating up a 58-year-old economist.
A group of men from the neighbourhood chased the gang of 10 to 20
teenagers in a people carrier. The teenagers had been verbally abusing
people and throwing bricks, paving slabs and large wheely bins through
windows.
The 15-strong gang, all aged around 17 years old, beat up a 58-year-old
man who refused to give them money. He was pulled from his car and
stamped on and punched as he lay on the floor.
Terrified residents in Dalmeny Road told how the trouble started
during a Halloween ‘trick or treat’ session.
The males were wearing hoodies and the females nurses and schoolgirls
uniforms.
The father-of-two told the Tribune how he was waiting to pick up
his 14-year-old daughter when the gang demanded money.
He said: “I refused them money and they became agitated. One
leant in through the window and punched me.
“I got out to remonstrate with them and they kicked my legs
out from under me.
“I just cradled my head in my arms while they kick and stamped
me. It lasted for about 30 seconds.”
Police arrived shortly after the attack and toured the area but
to no avail.
He added: “After I was rescued, there was a group of four men
in their 20s were really upset and said they had bricks put through
their windows. They were normal-looking blokes from the community
and were asking where the gang went.”
There was no information about whether or not the vigilante group
caught up with the gang who raced away on foot.
The “nightmare” began at around 9.30pm after the youths
knocked door-to-door on homes in Dalmeny Road, St George’s
Road and Huddleston Road.
The gang became frustrated when residents did not open their doors
or refused to hand over money.
They then began throwing bricks and dustbins through windows.
One witness, a 48-year-old former BBC worker, said: “These
guys were not looking for quiet chat.
“The were running riot. We’ve got bonfire night coming
up and that’s going to be mayhem.”
A number of youths from the nearby Brecknock Estate have been subject
to High Court injunctions banning them from parts of Holloway.
The attack happened after fears of a local crime wave. However,
St George’s ward will get its own dedicated ward police team
in January 2006, three months ahead of schedule.
The team, called Safer Neighbourhood scheme, includes a sergeant,
two PCs and four community support officers.
St George’s Lib Demcouncillor Angela Brook hopes new mobile
CCTV vans and extra ward police will go some way to addressing the
problem of marauding youth.
She said: “I heard about a people carrier full of men armed
with sticks going after these kids. This vigilante thing is going
to happen if this kind of behaviour is not stopped. People will
take the law into their own hands.
“It’s a natural human reaction – these gangs are
so threatening.”
St George’s Labour councillor Wally Burgess, said: “You
can understand the vigilantes. If kids come up our street chucking
bricks through windows, you’re going to want them out.
“These weren’t little boys trick or treating.
“They were people demanding money with menaces. They have to
understand there’s a lot of hefty blokes living around here.”
An Islington Police spokeswoman said: “We are investigating
the assault but we can’t specifically link it to allegations
of smashing windows. With regards to any vigilante groups, we would
absolutely not advise anybody to take the law into their own hands.”
The police have stepped up patrols in the area in the run-up to
bonfire night. |
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