Islignton Tribune - News: Gang turf war theory over double shooting

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Islington Tribune - by ED CUMMING and SIMON WROE
Published: 27 April 2007

Hathersage Court, scene of the shooting

Gang turf war theory over double shooting

CCTV plan as police pledge to drive dealers off street

A DOUBLE shooting in Newington Green last week marks the latest escalation in a turf war between rival street gangs.
The attack, in Hathersage Court last Monday, left two men with gunshot wounds.
A 21-year-old man was shot in the buttocks and a second victim, aged 37, was shot in the thigh, while a third man escaped with minor injuries.
The landlord of a nearby public house, who asked not to be named, said: “It sounded like fireworks. It took us a while to realise what was happening.
“We have dodgy-looking guys come in all the time, but we just kick them out.”
Detectives say two men were seen running towards Ferntower Road.
Police have arrested two men, aged 50 and 21, on suspicion of firearms offences.
In the past year, police have struggled to keep a lid on escalating, drug-fuelled violence around Newington Green.
But the head of the Mildmay Safer Neighbourhoods Team insists his officers are winning the fight against the dealers. Sergeant Graham Cushway said: “There is CCTV planned for Hathersage Court and we have constant patrols.
“We are aware of complaints from residents and we are investigating to put a stop to it.”
Sgt Cushway also hinted at “other work”, which could be undercover, going on to beat the gangs.
Last week’s shootings came just three days after an inquest into the fatal stabbing of Joseph ‘Tinker’ Armstrong in Hathersage Court last year.
One trader, who did not wish to be named, said he saw up to 30 drug deals a day taking place in the busy area.
A resident added: “I see drugs deals happening 20 or 30 times a day. There was one guy who was in jail but he got out and there were two guys trying to move in on his patch and that’s when the trouble started.
“They use under-age guys to carry the drugs because they know they can’t go to prison.”

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