Six males, the youngest aged just 16 and the oldest 22, have been arrested at their homes today (November 23) following a vile homophobic attack in East London in which two men were verbally abused with one hit over the head with a wooden plank.
Police were first called on Sunday October 1 after the two men in their 20s were attacked at around 5.30pm by a group while walking along High Road in Chadwell Heath.
A group of six men hurled abuse at the victims before then making threats towards them. This escalated further when one of the abusers picked up a plank of wood and hit one of the victims over the head with it, causing cuts and bruises that required hospital treatment.
The attack happened on Chadwell Heath High Road (Image: Google)
The second victim was not injured, but both were understandably distressed by the horrific incident.
Chief Inspector Chris Nixon, from the East Area Command Unit, said: “This morning’s arrests are the culmination of our investigation into an unprovoked assault on two men, that left one requiring hospital treatment.
“We are keeping the victims updated, and those arrested will be taken to police stations where they’ll be interviewed about their involvement in this attack.
“We are aware of the corrosive effect of hate crime and remain determined to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice. I hope that these arrests will send out a signal to those who think they can get away with homophobic abuse and violence that we will track you down.”
Police say a dedicated LGBTQ+ liaison officer will continue to have oversight of the investigation and provide support to the victims.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information or footage are being asked to call police on 101 or contact via ‘X’ Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 5640/01Oct. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Shoppers are predicted to spend an average of £214 in the Black Friday sales this year, which could bag you return flights to Amsterdam. A poll of 2,030 adults found four in 10 plan to get involved in the annual sales bonanza, with men outspending women by nearly £80 (£247.49 to £172.70).
Londoners are the most willing to splash the cash (£297.20), while those living in Wales are the most reserved at £113.45. Those aged 45 to 54 are set to spend the most (£236.68), while the 65 and overs will spend the least at £155.28.
Half of those polled think Black Friday is overhyped and 30 per cent reckon it's a bogus American import. Despite this, a quarter (26 per cent) think it’s a great time to buy for Christmas and is a great money-saving opportunity (21 per cent).
Some think Black Friday is just a bogus American import (Image: Richard Baker/Getty)
A spokesperson for OnePoll, which commissioned the research, said: "There can be value in looking for a good bargain.
“Shoppers are pulled in different directions, so knowing where to spend your hard-earned cash can be tricky. But it’s clear that when people do decided to buy things in the Black Friday sales, they’re looking to get the most out of their money.”
The study found one in 10 adults do all of their shopping exclusively online, while 42 per cent said they did most of it via the internet.
As a sign of the times, just nine per cent said they did little to none of their shopping online. And the Black Friday sale was just edged out ahead of the New Year’s sales as the nation’s favourite (48 to 47 per cent respectively).
The OnePoll spokesperson added: “Whether it’s a new set of cutlery, or a bigger buy, Black Friday deals are all the rage. But make sure you’re nabbing yourself a good deal, as it can be tricky to get swept up in the craziness of it all.”
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The "dangerous" dog that savaged its owner in South East London yesterday (November 20), leaving her fighting for her life, attacked another smaller dog last year a local business owner has revealed.
Video footage seen by SWNS from February last year showed the huge white dog, which looked like an American Bulldog, approach a smaller dog which began barking.
The larger dog’s owner is seen losing control of her pet, which is on a lead, before being pulled and falling onto the floor. Her dog is then seen chasing and latching onto the smaller dog, before leaving with its owner following it.
The attack happened on Bedwell Road in Belvedere on Monday (Image: Google Maps)
The business owner in Belvedere, who showed the video footage but did not wish to share it, said: “The lady’s dog is temperamental.
“It attacked this other dog – a small puppy. Its owner posted on a local Facebook group, trying to find out who the owner of the big dog was."
He added: “That dog was dangerous. I know that. If it was around, I won’t go out.” The post made on Facebook by the owner also adds that the smaller dog, a miniature poodle, required surgery after the attack with a large open wound in its back.
Police rushed to an address on Bedwell Road in Belvedere just before 9am on Monday to reports of a dog attacking a woman. Both the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service attended the incident, along with an air ambulance.
The dog owner was was taken to hospital where she remains in a critical condition, while the dog died after being Tased by police in a bid to stop the attack. An enquiry into what happened is ongoing.
This comes after neighbours of the woman attacked described the dog that attacked her as a 'fruitcake' and a 'lunatic'.
One man, who gave his name only as John, said: “I’ve had rows with her before, one of the dogs was a lunatic. It was an XL Bully type. She’s been here about three years."
Another man named Wayne, whose partner lives nearby, added: "At one time she had three dogs. One was a pocket bully, a sweet little thing.
“But the big one was just a fruitcake. You can tell with dogs... I wouldn’t trust it. I think they were rescue dogs. They were always barking.”
Transport for London (TfL) misled the public about the benefits of the capital’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ), according to a draft report leaked to The Sunday Telegraph. An investigation was launched by watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) earlier this year after hundreds of people complained that the transport body exaggerated the extent that the scheme had improved air quality.
A draft ASA report criticises “misleading” claims made about reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in TfL’s radio and newspaper advertisements, and recommendations state that two complaints about two radio adverts and one in a newspaper are to be upheld, according to the Telegraph. Following the ASA’s investigation, it found two adverts were “misleading” because they “did not clarify” claims NO2 levels had “reduced by nearly half” as a result of ULEZ, and were based on “estimates or modelled scenarios” and not “actual figures”.
The second complaint set to be upheld found an advertisement that claimed deaths from pollution were higher in outer London failed to make clear that the area had already been covered by ULEZ, the newspaper reported. TfL, which is chaired by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, spent millions of pounds on marketing ahead of expanding the ULEZ to cover the whole of the capital from August 29.
TfL, chaired by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, is meeting with ASA to go through the data (Image: Anthony Devlin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It is understood Mr Khan’s office will strongly reject any suggestion the adverts were misleading. Vehicles used in the ULEZ area that do not meet minimum emissions standards are liable for a £12.50 daily fee.
Figures released by TfL last month show around 60,000 vehicle owners a day are paying the £12.50 ULEZ fee for using vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards. Many opponents of ULEZ expansion claim the scheme is aimed at generating revenue for TfL, but Mr Khan has insisted the policy is boosting air quality.
A TfL spokesman said: “We have received the draft recommendations from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and are strongly challenging them. The ASA is not challenging the science.
"The science is absolutely clear about the significant harm of air pollution on people’s health and that estimated premature deaths from air pollution are higher in outer London than in inner London. We are confident that the advertisement is accurate. Scientific analysis based on modelled scenarios and estimates is standard practice in the scientific community.
"We are meeting with the ASA to take them through the data and explain in detail how it is used. It remains the case that the expansion of the ultra low emission zone is playing a crucial role in the reduction of air pollution – improving air quality for everyone in London and reducing the harms to health associated with vehicle emissions.”
In the post-war years, long before it was the humming commercial and tourism centre that it is today, Soho was the epicentre of bohemian life in London, with its proximity to the West End and countless underground bars making it the perfect place for artists of all stripes to socialise.
While much of this social scene has been lost in the transformation of the area in recent years, there are still some throwback institutions going just as strong as ever, and few are as celebrated as the iconic French House on Dean Street.
Originally named the York Minster, the pub was known to regulars as the French House informally, with this name eventually sticking and becoming official. During the First World War, it was bought by Belgian Victor Berlemont whose son Gaston would go on to run the pub until 1989.
During that time the pub became a favourite in the area, serving beers in half pint glasses (except on April 1) and selling more of the French pastis spirit Ricard than anywhere else in the country.
Walking into the pub you'll quickly notice pictures of the former landlord Gaston all over the place, with famous regulars under his tenure including Charles De Gaulle, Francis Bacon, Tom Baker, and Lucian Freud.
It's easy to see what kept them all coming back as well, with an eclectic decor which sees news-clippings, artworks, photographs and paintings of regulars as well as current and former staff, and splashes of different colours adorning most of the walls.
The bar features an eclectic decor
Phones are banned in the French House too, so above everything else those who keep returning do so for the conversation and personable vibe.
One of those regulars is John Brian. Sitting at the bar reading a book with a glass of wine he tells MyLondon: "I've been coming since I was a student. I've always tended to live and work around here.
"I moved elsewhere at one point so I didn't come for years, but when I did come back it hadn't changed a bit. Sometimes you'll come in and there'll be a new member of staff but they already know what your usual is."
Former owner Gaston Berlemont
He added: "You can get a nice glass of wine for a very reasonable price compared to the rest around here and its a nice place that has real history."
Even more fancy quirks are reserved for the more famous among the French House's drinkers, with one well-known former actress even having her own glass held in reserve for when she stops by for a tipple - the pub insists on keeping the star anonymous.
This work ethic and personal touch is exactly what the latest custodian of the French House, landlady Lesley Lewis, points to. She tells MyLondon the reason the pub remains so loved is 'because we work very hard to make it that way'.
The pub's restaurant is in the UK's top 50
She added: "People come for good drink and conversation. It's not like one of those pubs where nobody talks to anyone, generally speaking, our customers are great fans of the arts, we don't have a TV and we don't show sports or play music.
"It's a friendly place and you get all sorts of people from all ages who hopefully feel comfortable and able to chat. The restaurant is also 41 out of the best 100 restaurants in the UK so that draws in its own quite different clientele."
This introduces the second floor of the French House, a gourmet French-inspired restaurant with an exclusive spread of just six tables decked in traditional white tablecloths serving an ever-changing menu of delicious food that led Guardian food critic Grace Dent to declare 'Soho isn’t over'.
The restaurant is also pretty exclusive with very limited seating
Stepping inside the second-floor restaurant which is playfully signposted on the pubs stairs as the 'upstairs bar', you feel almost transported back in time to a simpler era of classy yet simple dining. A single sharply dressed waiter can be heard rattling through the days menu while behind the restaurant bar sits a treasure trove of wine.
Filing back downstairs to get another look at the main bar the pub has already started filling up as we near midday on a weekday. It's clear this is one Soho institution that won't be disappearing anytime soon.
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Lots of Londoners own a bike, but one North London dad-of-two has used the mode of transport to become a hero in his community, creating a 24-hour emergency response team across the city to tackle homelessness. Verral Paul-Walcott, 35, began helping those in need during the pandemic, delivering goods such as toothpaste and toothbrushes to the homeless.
Now he has a team of cyclists from all different boroughs who are on call to help give people things they need. The cycling group 'c86erz' have set meeting points all over London where they can pick up goods from Verral's van.
They then ride different routes in London and help people as and when they see them on the street, trying to cater to their needs. Verral told MyLondon: "Its great to see how much my community support me with the work I do. There's a massive element of union in Tottenham.
Verral won Tottenham Hale community hero award in 2022 for his work in the area (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
"It's one thing leading but it's nothing if you aren't believed in and that's what my community do. It's great to see, especially when your five-year-old turns round and says he wants to help homeless people as well.
"I think its paramount in the times we're in now, with the cost of living especially, that there needs to be people who stand up and say that this is wrong. And I'm going to do my best by making my life account for more by helping other people."
Verral's scheme has become extremely widespread and he usually gets at least one message a day on social media alerting him of something a homeless person needs. He will then aim to get specific items delivered to the people within a couple of days.
Although there's been lots of negative agendas and attitudes towards homelessness in the political sphere at the moment Verral feels the traction the epidemic is getting is what is needed to make a difference. He said: "It's heart-warming to know that the nation is still fighting the corner of those that are facing difficulties and almost being left behind.
"I've had people message me and say I want to do what you do in London, how do I go about it. It's nice because I want this to be replicated.
"Lots of the situations that we have with people being homeless on the streets of London is because they've been failed by the system. I've dealt with situations where mum's have had to flee domestic violence with their kids and haven't had the correct structures in place to support them.
"I've dealt with one man who moved to London to care for his mum, and when she unfortunately died he was made homeless as he wasn't under the tenancy. These type of situations happen over and over again."
As well as handing out goods Verral runs a currency scheme, in collaboration with 24 restaurants so that people struggling can actually get what they want and are able to eat. He has put money behind tills in restaurants and in turn receives coins to hand out to people on the street within a five to seven mile radius of the shop.
Local Legends - Verral Paul-Walcott
MyLondon spoke to Verral Paul-Walcott as part of our Local Legends project, where our reporters are speaking to local heroes, legends and characters from every part of the city.
Ever wanted to know more about the market trader you see every day without fail on your way to work? Or how the person dressed in the pearl-covered suit spends their days and why they always look so flamboyant?
In every corner of London, the MyLondon team will shed the limelight on the city's Local Legends.
He said: "That way people can walk into a restaurant as and when they want to and their dietary requirements will be met as they are able to pick from the menu. I am also looking for more restaurants to come forward so we can broaden the scheme."
As Verral takes to the streets he explained how the situation is becoming a lot more prominent. Tents used to be secluded and now they are out in the open. "It's a scary situation to see," he said.
"I've seen a massive increase especially with younger people. I think we are really starting to see the repercussions of the loans that happened during Covid.
The dad of two will be leading a community ride in December to give to those in need this Christmas (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
"People missed too many payslips and are still playing catch up."
Verral has also created an Amazon wish list for the fourth year running so people can buy a gift for a child that doesn't have much this festive season. The link can be found in his Instagram bio.
To further support those struggling this winter on Friday, December 22 Verral will host his annual community ride, for anyone from London or further a field to take part in, all you need is a bike. As part of the ride there will be lots of proceeds handed out to those that are less fortunate over Christmas.
The ride will begin at 7pm from Shoreditch Tunnel. Verral added: "If you have read this article and feel that changes need to be made, then don't just take it as another story. Reach out within your community and look for people that need help or message me."
An East London Labour councillor was almost chucked out of a meeting on Wednesday evening (November 15) after she rebelled against council rules and used a debate to speak on the Gaza-Israel conflict and called for a ceasefire. A
head of this week's full council meeting, the Aspire, Labour and Green party at Tower Hamlets Council had wanted to present motions on the ongoing conflict, which all called for a ceasefire and pledged to support communities in the borough who have been affected by the events.
However, they were all rejected on the grounds that they were outside of the council's remit, as well as there reportedly being safety concerns for some councillors. Motions last for 30 minutes and are put forward by councillors to debate an issue, ending with a decision on whether to adapt it or not.
According to the council's constitution, motions must be 'about a matter for which the council has a responsibility or which affect the area', otherwise they can get rejected. Councillors were discussing Aspire's motion on the local plan when Cllr Asma Islam from the Tower Hamlets Labour Party stood up to speak and started to relate the debate back to the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Cllr Choudhury looked stressed as he tried to stop Cllr Islam from speaking about the conflict because it wasn't allowed (Image: Tower Hamlets Council)
Cllr Islam was interrupted by speaker of the council, Aspire councillor Jahed Choudhury, who stood up and pleaded with her to sit back down while he received advice from the council's monitoring officer, Janet Fasan. Cllr Choudhury said: "Can I remind everybody, could you please state your motion please."
Cllr Islam stood back up to begin her speech again: "We sit in the chambers tonight and no doubt will be arguing and debating over how we deliver the best for our people. I believe we all sit in this chamber with that sincerity regardless of party politics, this administration wants to build 4,000 new homes for this borough and I commend the ambition; Labour supports the ambition, but we will debate how this is delivered and implemented and I understand that the local plan should go along way to do that."
She went on to say: "On one hand, I feel politics has come a long way. We have a British Indian for Prime Minister, a British Pakistani for London mayor and a British Bangladeshi for Mayor of Tower Hamlets - glass ceilings broken.
"On the other hand I feel politics has failed when over 800,000 British people get out of their homes protesting and calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East-"
Cllr Islam was then again interrupted by Cllr Choudhury who urged her to leave the council chamber as motions on the conflict had been banned from the meeting however she shouted back: "I do not want to disrespect you but please allow me to finish."
She could be heard saying: "The people of Gaza are fighting to survive in their homes destroyed by the bombardment, while thousands are displaced in what is called the second Nakba."
'You have to leave now'
Shaking his head and clearly distressed, Cllr Choudhury said: "Cllr Islam you have to leave now... I've warned you so many times, I've given you the chance and I've advised you to [stick] to the motion."
Cllr Islam defended her comments and said, "I am relating it back to the motion" but was asked to leave the room while a round of applause could be heard in the council chamber.
Labour councillor, Abdal Ullah jumped in to support Cllr Islam and said: "Mr Speaker, with all due respect as an elected councillor you cannot ask a member of the council to sit on the audience and if that's the case we as the Labour group will go out."
Clearly frustrated, Cllr Islam tried to respond to Cllr Choudhury's decision but was asked to sit back down.
After a quick break, monitoring officer Ms Fasan confirmed council rules, and said: "Just to remind members the speaker does have the power to exclude members after a warning."
Ms Fasan said: "Going forward can I just remind members please keep to your scripts, keep to the questions keep to the motion and do not stray into material that is not relevant to the motion.
"In this particular instance, we are talking about the conflict between Gaza and [Israel], a very emotive issue I know but this is even more of a reason why members need to be mindful of their language and mindful in making sure they keep their contributions relevant to the subject matter of the motion."
On Thursday afternoon (November 16), hundreds of school children walked out of lessons and took to the streets of Tower Hamlets demanding there be a ceasefire and could be heard chanting 'free Palestine' and 'stop bombing Gaza'. It comes after Rushanara Ali, Labour MP for Bow and Bethnal Green abstained from voting for a motion in parliament which called for a ceasefire.
