Sunday 24 January 2010

Welcome To The Olympics. East End Style!


Two 18 year-old students were left with near-fatal stab wounds near the 2012 Olympic Stadium for simply exchanging looks with a teenage knifeman locked-up for thirteen years last week.

Aaron Wembo, 17, of Manor Park, East London, caught the eye of the pair – sitting on a bench - as he rode a bike through nearby Stratford Park on June 19, last year.

Wembo (pictured) called a twenty-strong gang to the park and launched a frenzied knife attack on Adnan Ali, who was stabbed six times – suffering a punctured lung - and Mehtab Kamal who he stabbed twice in the buttocks.

They were left with life threatening injuries and Adnan struggled to breathe as Wembo – who used a kitchen knife he previously hid in bushes – fled the park, warning others not to identify him to police.

An Old Bailey jury convicted him of attempting to murder Adnan, inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mehtab and violent disorder.

Detective Superintendent Jeannie Haggerty of Newham Borough said: "Incidents of serious youth violence in Newham, whilst uncommon, will always be a matter of concern to the community.

"In this instance the hard work and persistence of the investigating officers and the co-operation of the public, enabled the police and courts to get a successful prosecution, reassuring the public that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and individuals involved will be brought to justice.

"Police in Newham are committed to fully supporting victims and witnesses of all crime and would like to thank all those involved."

Judge Peter Thornton told Wembo:"This was knife crime at its worst. The victims had done nothing to you, but you stabbed them both in the back, intending to wound one and kill the other.

"This looks very much like gratuitous violence, for the sheer pleasure of it. Both victims will never forget their terrible experience.”

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