Latest news with #NottingHillCarnival
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Chilling moment yob pulls out handgun and kills 15-year-old boy in Teletubbies Park before Notting Hill Carnival in 'West London gang war'
This is the terrifying moment a yob pulled out a handgun before 'assassinating' a 15-year-old boy during a 'family fun day' in west London. Rene Graham was gunned down while surrounded by parents and children at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance open space - also known as 'Teletubbies Park' - in Ladbroke Grove last July. The shooting took place at an annual pre-Notting Hill Carnival event and allegedly came amid a violent postcode war between rival gangs. Chilling new CCTV footage released by police on Saturday shows a balaclava-clad suspect walking calmly towards the busy park. He can be seen taking a handgun out of his pocket before he entered Teletubbies Park via the children's play area and shot Rene in the chest. Further images show that after killing Rene, the shooter chased down a second victim in the middle of a busy street. The suspect can be seen pointing the gun at the young man as he flees around a corner and dives behind a white BMW. Police investigating the shooting say they believe the answers lie within a 'small pocket of the community' - as they offered a £20,000 reward for information. Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation said: 'Rene was tragically shot dead during a busy music festival. 'Since the launch of the investigation, officers have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and taken numerous statements from witnesses. 'Rene's family have continued to be supported throughout these enquiries, and they remain understandably devastated about his death. 'Recently, a man in his 20s was interviewed under caution in relation to Rene's murder and we continue to investigate all lines of enquiry.' Teletubbies Park lies within the W10 postcode but is close to the border with the W9 zone. In the aftermath of the shooting, residents told MailOnline there had been raised 'tensions' between gangs of youths operating in the two areas. DCI Foxwell added: 'The person responsible for Rene's murder opened fire in a busy park where dozens of people, including very young children, were enjoying themselves. 'Officers have appealed to the local community on multiple occasions – we believe there are people sitting on the name of the person responsible. 'This person, who was willing to take the life of Rene and risk the lives of others, remains in your community. 'Now is the time to get in touch with us to give Rene's family the peace they deserve. Our thoughts, remain as ever, with them.' Locals claim that two gangs operating near the area have been involved in a long running 'war' with each other - the Ladbroke Grove Boys (LGB), who are based on the Kensal New Town Estate, and the Harrow Road Boys (HRB) from the Mozart Estate. Beverley Campbell who was at the Park Lime event told MailOnline: 'Everybody around here knows about the war between the LGB and HRB. 'This is quite a rough area and gang members attacking each other is not a new thing.' She revealed that soon after the shooting, Rene's distraught mother arrived at the scene but was not allowed to see his body as police had sealed off the area. She was then joined by his father and other relatives. Kelvin, 38, a local resident of the Kensal New Town Estate told MailOnline: 'It may sound a bit crazy to outsiders, but this rivalry is not a new thing. 'It's been going on for years and all of us refer to each other as from being 'over the water.' 'We don't like them, and they don't like us. But the gangs have taken it to another level and things have got a lot worse. 'They're constantly attacking each other and most of these don't even get reported to the police. If a gang member or any young person is found in the wrong territory, then it always causes problems.' Olaseni Soyinka, 37, another local resident who was also at the Park Lime event added: 'Everybody was having a great time. People were dancing and there was loud music. 'Then we heard these bangs, and I wasn't sure what it was but then people started running. 'There are constant problems around here, our youngsters are out of control. 'When they're not fighting each other, they're causing a lot of anti-social nuisance by robbing local shops, letting of fireworks and damaging our cars. 'We don't bother calling the police because they don't do anything.' The Mozart estate was completed in 1974 and is made up of 737 houses and flats in 25 medium-rise blocks. Since then, it has acquired a reputation as one of the capital's 'sink estates' and is blighted by poor housing conditions, crime and drug dealing. The Kensal New Town estate was completed in the 1970s and is made up of around 700 flats and homes that are also affected by a variety of social issues. Both are just stone's throw from multi-million-pound homes and flats in Notting Hill that are home to A listers and are among the most expensive properties in the country. Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for Rene's murder. Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager for Crimestoppers, said: 'Rene, was very sadly murdered last year in broad daylight with over two hundred people present. 'The significant and lasting impact on his family, friends, and the local community, cannot be underestimated and our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones. 'We believe someone who either witnessed the incident or knows of someone who was there on the day, will have information. 'No matter how insignificant they think it could be, it could help bring those responsible to justice. 'You can contact Crimestoppers completely anonymously – we won't ask for your name and are unable to identify your telephone number or IP address if you are reporting online. 'We don't record calls, so once you have contacted our Charity there is no further involvement. 'Your information is passed anonymously on to the Police with no questions asked. 'Please do the right thing to find justice for Rene, who was only 15 years-old at the time of his death. 'Your information could make a real difference, and you may be eligible for a reward.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
The controversial crime-fighting tactic police will use at Notting Hill Carnival
The Metropolitan Police will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) cameras at Notting Hill Carnival next month as part of extensive crime-cutting measures. These cameras will be used to identify individuals wanted on the Police National Computer, missing persons, and those subject to sexual harm prevention orders. The LFR technology, which has led to 215 arrests from 111 deployments in 2025, will be positioned on the approaches to the carnival to spot suspects before crowds gather. Other safety initiatives include a partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation to combat knife crime, the deployment of 7,000 officers daily, stop and search powers, and pre-emptive arrests. The police aim to prevent serious violence, knife crime, and violence against women and girls, ensuring the safety of attendees at Europe's largest street party.
ITV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Facial recognition cameras to be used at Notting Hill Carnival, Met says
Facial recognition cameras are among a range of crime-cutting measures being used by the Metropolitan Police at this year's Notting Hill Carnival. They will be placed on the approach to and from the west London event, Europe's biggest street party, on the August Bank Holiday weekend, in an effort to spot suspects before the streets get crowded. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, the police commander for this year's event, said 'there has been a tiny minority of individuals intent on causing serious harm to others' and the cameras, which will be outside the carnival's boundaries, may also help revellers get home safely. A link-up with the Elba Hope Foundation, the youth organisation led by actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina, aimed at helping tackle knife crime is among the measures being introduced. Around 7,000 officers and staff will be deployed each day over the carnival weekend. Live facial recognition (LFR) cameras will be used by police at the carnival to search for people who are marked as being wanted on the Police National Computer. They will also be used to spot those who are shown as missing – including young people who may also be at risk of either criminal or sexual exploitation – and people who have sexual harm prevention orders against them because of the risk they pose, particularly to women and girls. So far in 2025 there have been 215 arrests from 111 deployments of LFR cameras, which capture live footage of people passing by and compare their faces against a watchlist of wanted offenders. The system generates an alert if a match is detected, prompting an officer to review it and decide if they need to speak to the individual. Further checks, such as reviewing court orders or other relevant information, are also carried out to see if the person is a suspect. The force said that if a member of the public walks past an LFR camera and is not wanted by the police, their biometrics are immediately and permanently deleted. Officers are also working with the Crimestoppers charity as part of a plan to keep the carnival free from knife crime, serious violence and violence against women and girls. The focus will be on deterring or preventing people who pose the greatest threat to public safety and the security of the event, the force said. The police said they will be using stop and search powers to prevent knives and other deadly weapons being carried at carnival. It means that intelligence on violent gangs who are planning to attend the carnival is being shared with forces across the country and banning orders are being sought against those who have a history of violence or sexual offending at the event. A number of 'pre-emptive intelligence-led arrests and searches' are being used against suspects believed to be in possession of weapons or involved in the supply of drugs. There were 160 such arrests before last year's carnival prior to the event for offences including possession of firearms, drugs supply, rape and other serious sexual assaults. Windrush campaigners urge government to save Notting Hill Carnival Visitors may also have to go through screening arches which are being set up at some of the busiest entry points. Mr Ward said: 'Regrettably, amongst the millions of carnivalists who have attended over many years there has been a tiny minority of individuals intent on causing serious harm to others, including violent crime and sexual offences. 'Their actions stand in stark contrast to the traditions and values of Carnival and I welcome those voices in the community who have stood up to condemn violence and serious criminality at the event. 'I fully support the organisers' recent announcement of a new, innovative partnership with the Elba Hope Foundation to divert young people away from crime and particularly knife crime.' He said that the 'carnival's growing popularity and size creates unique challenges' and the priority for police officers and staff working across the long weekend will be to keep people safe, including 'preventing serious violence, such as knife crime and violence against women and girls'. The Met also appealed for anyone with information about groups or individuals intending to engage in violence at this year's Notting Hill Carnival to come forward.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Notting Hill Carnival: Police to use facial recognition tech
Live facial recognition (LFR) technology will deployed during the Notting Hill Carnival, the Metropolitan Police has force said the cameras would be used on the approach to and exit from Carnival, "outside the boundaries of the event" itself, to help officers "identify and intercept" people who pose a public safety risk. The Met added that it would be carrying out "pre-emptive intelligence-led arrests and searches" of people believed to be in possession of weapons or supplying drugs, as it set out its policing plan for the August Bank Holiday Brother Watch interim director Rebecca Vincent called for LFR plans to be scrapped, adding that the technology was "less accurate in scanning minority faces".
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Newspaper headlines from around the world - Friday, 18 July 2025
Here are the stories that made headlines on the front pages of newspapers worldwide on Friday, 18 July 2025. The New York Times front page reported that China is investing billions to catch up in the AI race. The Washington Post reported that a Brazilian judge is in Trump's sights. The Jerusalem Post's front page reported that Shas ministers have officially resigned. China Daily's front page reported progress in intellectual property protection for more foreign innovators. The Daily Mail's front page reported that police will use facial recognition cameras at Notting Hill Carnival. The Guardian's front page reported that Labour has suspended Diane Abbott for a second time. If you wish to stay up-to-date – for FREE – on the latest international and South African news, then bookmark The South African website for all that plus the latest in the world of finance, sport, lifestyle – and more. Did we mention it was 100% free to read …?
