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Three stabbed at kebab shop Jacqui said was safe
Danny Brierley, Evening Standard24 Apr 2008
Three men have been stabbed outside the kebab shop that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith used to prove London's streets are safe.
Pools of blood were left on the pavement outside Katie's Kebabs in Peckham after the men were attacked last night.
Ms Smith was criticised in January for revealing she would not venture out alone on the capital's streets after dark.
She tried to ease the row by claiming she had once been to Katie's Kebabs, but the shop owner revealed she had been accompanied by a bodyguard.
Onlookers said last night's confrontation began outside a barber shop next door to the takeaway just before 8pm. It escalated and ended with the three victims collapsing with knife wounds.
Two of the men, aged 29 and 41, were said to be in a stable condition, but a 31-year-old is in a serious condition. A 28-year-old man arrested at the scene is in custody.
The kebab shop was sealed off as forensic science officers began searching for clues. Bloody newspapers and rags were taken away to be tested.
Store manager Hassan Ginel said: "There was a nasty fight outside while the football was on in the shop next door. There was broken glass everywhere."
The 52-year-old added: "Sometimes people around here take toomany drugs and do whatever they want."
An onlooker said: "This just proves the streets are not safe at night, especially if you don't have a bodyguard with you."
Ms Smith said she visited the takeaway in January after saying there were parts of London she would not venture alone after dark. Asked if she would feel safe walking round Hackney, she replied: "Well, no, but I don't think that's a thing that people do, is it, really?"
Reader views (9)
Ms Smith is my constituency MP. She seems to be very keen on getting her picture in the local paper as often as possible. Picture of Jacqui visiting this, picture of Jacqui opening that etc, etc. Some of her constituents think she would turn up for the opening of an envelope if the local paper sends a photographer.
- James, Redditch, Worcestershire, 25/04/2008 16:55
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Erm! So the home secretary should not have a bodyguard? Okay then ....great news - if you're a religious extremist.
- Mick, south london, 25/04/2008 11:57
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Why that woman was ever made Home Secretary is beyond belief and one of the Crash Gordon failings, one of the many mistakes...
- Georgie, Islington, London, 25/04/2008 11:57
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Well it's about time we made the punishment fit the crime. Take away their Sky TV, breakfast in bed and make them do something. Life means life, 5yrs means 5yrs not 24months as the prison is a bit full. Also youth offenders have to treated as adults, they're not mischievous little kids they are committing very serious crimes.
- Mark, London, 25/04/2008 11:41
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Frankly politicians won't give a toss about youth crime. Brown’s government must, if he cares, put in place immediate practical measures to stop this madness. Crime is one of the principle issues in the Mayor of London election. Ken has failed to tackle it.
- Marph, London, 24/04/2008 18:55
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Perhaps the government should set up a "think tank" to consider whether or not they should issue "bullet & stab proof vests" to all kebab eaters?
Not terribly surprising that so many Londoners are afraid to go out at night... Despite opposing media comments being issued by our ever-so-trustworthy government!
- Fraser, Telford Park, 24/04/2008 16:35
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When will people wake up and 'smell the coffee'? What can a politician or a political party do that will change the morals and actions of individuals? People who have the mindset to carry out these acts of violence against another human being will not stop because of any policy that a government will bring in, they will only change their attitudes and actions because they want to. To the ordinary person 'crime does not pay' but to the criminal 'it pays until you get caught' (and even then most times it's just a smacked wrist, or time in a warm, dry cell with 3 meals a day - where's the punishment in that?).....I know, I'm very optimistic about our future!
- Lilly, London, UK, 24/04/2008 15:03
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So... Harriet Harman was right to wear a stab vest when she walked about Peckham recently! To think Ken keeps banging on about crime in London falling. Rubbish - I like the Home Secretary don't feel safe being out in the dark in London. About time Boris came in to make things better.
- Lou, Camberwell, London, 24/04/2008 12:48
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Labour lost the streets years a go the quicker people realise this the quicker we can all move on and start fresh starting with a new mayor and a new head of the met labour will never build new prisons so people know they will probably get a caution if caught.
- Dave Angel, London, 24/04/2008 12:46
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