Gang-Busting Cops Nail Two Thugs

Two young East London thugs, who launched a brutal armed gang attack on a pair of drinkers as they left a local pub, have both been locked-up.

Gang-busting Met cops in Operation Connect headed the investigation into the unprovoked attack, involving a large group of youths armed with a variety of weapons – including an iron bar.

Waltham Forest pair Monsur Zaman, 20, (pic.top) received eighteen months and Eren Mehmet, 18, (pic.bottom) received two years at Snaresbrook Crown Court for grievous bodily harm.

On Friday April 8, the victims, aged 41 and 43, were drinking in a Leytonstone High Road pub and were suddenly rushed by the group when they left at around 9:45pm.

One victim fell to the floor during the attack and was repeatedly kicked, punched and hit with an assortment of weapons including an iron bar. 



The second victim shouted at the group, hoping to frighten off the youths, but they simply turned on him.

One victim received 18 stitches to his ear and the other received cuts to his face that also required stitches.



Officers from Operation Connect launched an investigation and quickly identified Mehmet as one of the suspects in the attack.

Evidence recovered from the scene of the attack were sent for scientific forensic examination, which later identified Zaman. 



Operation Connect analyses information from across the Metropolitan Police Service’s intelligence systems along with information from partners and communities in order to produce a centralised MPS database or matrix of the most dangerous gang members in London.

The number of 'high risk' individuals identified from intelligence analysis is likely to top 1,000 and both Mehmet and Zaman were on the matrix. 



There have been more than eighty arrests made under Operation Connect, resulting in gang members charged with offences including robbery, grievous bodily harm, possession of offensive weapons and traffic offences.

The team have also seized tens of thousands of pounds in cash.



Detective Chief Inspector Tim Champion said: “This was a vicious attack by the pair which left lasting psychological and physical effects on their victims.



“Operation Connect will continue to work on reducing violence driven by gang culture and to identify and successfully target those gang members on our matrix.

“We would like to thank the bravery of the victims and witnesses for giving evidence and hope today's result will bring some closure.”