'No law and order' after Wembley shop attacks

Business owners in Wembley say they are "stressed and very scared" after a series of attacks which have left shops badly damaged - with no arrests made by the Metropolitan Police.

Officers have been called out multiple times in recent weeks to reports of criminal damage and affray involving groups of youths targeting several premises on Ealing Road.

Suraj Sweet Mart, Panesar Food and Wine and the Manek Chowk Indian restaurant were all targeted earlier this month, with videos circulating online showing young men storming the shops and trashing the interiors.

The Met confirmed the incidents and said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances, and whether they were linked.

In one incident, police were called to Manek Chowk at about 20:54 GMT on 5 March following reports that a group of masked males had entered the premises and caused extensive damage.

The restaurant's owner said businesses had been forced to close early to prevent further attacks.

Speaking anonymously to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said: "They were throwing things at the staff. They smashed the whole restaurant."

He said he had to close because none of his staff felt safe enough to return to work.

The owner also criticised the police response, describing it as "useless".

"There is no safety, there is no law and order," he said.

"For three days I haven't slept properly. The business is suffering, we have lost money, customers and staff."

Some traders and residents have suggested the attacks may be specifically targeting Hindu-owned businesses.

Police inquiries have indicated that some of the incidents involved Hindu businesses, while others did not, the Met said.

Ch Insp Yu Zhang, who leads policing in the area, said additional patrols were being deployed and that officers were working closely with community partners, including local faith venues, to ensure people feel safe.

Brent Council described "any violent or targeted intimidation" of local businesses as "utterly unacceptable", calling the incidents "deeply concerning".

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