Morning:
11°c
Soldier killed by IRA was in Spurs trials
Justin Davenport and Rashid Razaq09.03.09
A London soldier shot dead by the Real IRA had trials with Tottenham Hotspur, it was revealed today.
Sapper Cengiz Azimkar, 21, from Wood Green, died with fellow soldier Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, only hours before he was due to fly to Afghanistan.
They were caught in a hail of 60 bullets fired by the gunmen, it emerged tonight.
Sapper Azimkar — known as Patrick — and his friend were in desert fatigues when they were murdered as they collected a pizza delivery outside their barracks in Antrim.
Tributes poured in today as Gordon Brown visited the barracks and met Army and police chiefs for urgent talks on the security situation. Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward tonight described the killers as "barbaric criminals".
Sapper Azimkar was said to have been looking forward to going to Afghanistan on his first operational tour and had been noted as potential officer material.
His Turkish father, Mehmet, a carpenter, and his mother, Geraldine, who is from Lancashire but of Irish descent, were being comforted by relatives at the family home in north London.
A Tottenham Hotspur spokesman said: "Given Patrick's affiliation with the club we will be honoured to send a tribute. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
Neighbour Greg Kalogirou, 23, a kitchen fitter, said: "My friends have spoken to Patrick's older brother James and he's devastated. They were very close. Patrick loved adventure.
"He was very physically fit and used to be stronger than all the other boys when we were growing up.
"I was joking around with him in the street before he left. I know he loved life in the Army and was always raring to go. I have known him for 11 years. I used to play football with him. He was very good at football. He could have gone
into that if he wanted but he joined the Army straight after he left school."
He added: "Everyone knew him as Patrick, only his dad would call him Cengiz. He was a Liverpool fan and apart from the Army, he loved football."
A cousin of Sapper Azimkar said: "You don't expect it to happen in Northern Ireland. There are no wars on there."
One neighbour said Mrs Azimkar's elderly mother came to Britain as a young girl and lived with the family until recently, when she moved to a residential home.
The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "They are a lovely family with two fine boys and anybody on the street will tell you that. I am devastated to hear the news."
Fellow soldiers paid tribute to Sapper Azimkar's "cheeky smile" and tireless work ethic.
Sapper Quinsey, who joined the Army when he was 19, was described as a "charismatic and affable young soldier" with vast potential. Comrades spoke fondly of his charming "Brummie banter" and dry sense of humour.
The soldiers, from 38 Engineer Regiment, were the first to be murdered in the Province for a decade. Two other soldiers and two pizza deliverymen were also seriously injured in the shooting at Massereene military base.
Northern Ireland's most senior soldier, Brigadier George Norton, said the pair were "magnificent" servicemen and condemned the "callous and clinical attack".
Security chiefs believe the gunmen were prepared to murder all six.
The Real IRA last night claimed responsibility, calling the pizza deliverymen British "collaborators".
Police today said one of the pizza deliverymen, who is 32 and from Poland, remains in a serious condition. He is believed to have a partner and a 16-month-old child.
The condition of the other three injured men is now described as stable.
Reader views (8)
Personally I don't see what the fact he had trials at Spurs has to do with anything whatsoever.
- Stu, Beckton
Charles, London. What a stupid and ignorant post. To suggest that this has anything to do with the economic situation in Ireland just shows that you know even less about Ireland than your pathetic post suggests. The cowardly thugs who did this don't need an excuse to kill, they are the die-hards and warped fundamentalists who simply will not accept the fact that the world has moved on and that the vast majority of the people of Ireland, north and south want to live in peace. Just like in 1922, Adams & McGuinness must now take on those who were once their 'comrades in arms'. Ireland has enough problems to deal with without this lowlife scum causing mayhem and death. The security forces north & south know many of the so called RIRA members and these cowards will be caught sooner or later. The revolting cretins who did this are part of the same despicable cowards who murdered the innocent people of Omagh and they are reviled and detested throughout Ireland. My thoughts and condolences are with the families of the young soldiers.
- Ed, Hants
We are all so deeply saddened by this tragedy. I am still in shock it is not believable. Why do people always want war and to kill innocent lives!!! Nobody has a right to kill another or to do Evil. There is more to life than land, bricks, water and stupid egos - grow up!
We will miss you so much Cengiz Azimkar our dearest cousin rest in peace you are a hero to us!
- Nez, Catford, London
I thought suicide terrorists had stolen these cowardly scumbags thunder? but no, Ireland goes down the pan economically so its time to focusing anger on the British again.
- Charles, London
I am totally sick to the pit of my stomach with the news that these totally inocent young men have been butchered by the yellow bellied cowards of the so called Real IRA. These are actions of the most dispicable, disgusting creatures that ever drew breath.They hide their cowardly faces behind masks, that is proof in itself just how cowardly and gutless these despised creatures are. It would be an insult to all of us to refer to them as human beings. They are nothing more than a cancer in our society. Have these brainless narrow minded fools learned nothing over the last number of decades of past madness.
My heart goes out to all the families of these men. My prayers are with them. I am ashamed to say that these mindless brainless morons share the same island as I do. We as a people must never allow these creatures to sink our land back into the mire we were in for so many years in the past. They have nothing at all to offer the people of this land but misery as was proved before. They must be removed from society at all costs if there is a risk of of going back to the dark murderous days of the past. The decent right thinking people have a duty to all in this country to ensure that never happens.
- Alan Cromie, Northern Ireland
ALL TERRORISTS - no matter what their religion, politics or cause, are complete and utter cowards: it's the very nature of their game.
I suppose the IRA pensions pot is affected by the recession as much as anyone else's . . .
- Roz, Chamonix, France
As an Irishman, I refuse to call these gunmen terrorists, they are just common criminals and scum.
- John, London
This Barracks was supposed to be guarded by armed personnel.
Where were they?
- John, London
