Second inquiry into Forest Gate terror raid: "I thought one by one they're going to kill us. At that time I thought I was going to die"

BBC
Jul. 10, 2006

A second independent inquiry will be conducted into last month's anti-terror raid in Forest Gate.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it will investigate claims by neighbours of the raided house that they were assaulted.

One man claims he was hit with a machine gun.

The IPCC says the new investigation is separate from an inquiry launched last month into how a man was shot in the shoulder during the east London raid.

Brothers Abul Koyair, 20, and Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23 - who was shot during the 2 June raid - were freed without charge after the 250-strong police operation at their home, 46 Lansdown Road, and adjoining house, number 48.

"The IPCC can confirm that it has received a complaint from the occupants of number 48 Lansdown Road and is conducting an independent investigation in relation to this," it said in a statement.

"This investigation is separate from the IPCC's investigation into the discharge of a police firearm during the raid at number 46 Lansdown Road, although it is being conducted by the same investigation team.

"We have not yet received a formal complaint from the occupants of number 46 Lansdown Road."

The Metropolitan Police have since apologised for the "hurt" they caused the two brothers arrested.

Mohammed Abdul Kahar, who was shot in the shoulder, has said he had thought he was going to be killed by robbers targeting his home.

"I thought one by one they're going to kill us. At that time I thought I was going to die," he told a press conference following his release.