A 25 year old who rammed his Range Rover into a crowd celebrating Eid in east London, has been sentenced to jail for 12 years. Akikul Islam was handed the sentence after being found guilty in a hearing at the Old Bailey. CCTV footage showed three men get out of two cars and beginning to argue with a group of 10 other males armed with baseball bats and bottles. The accused remained in his car as the brawl intensified, when the other car sped off he turned around and drove directly at three of the men, running over a 24 year old and smashing into a parked car.
He then reversed, hitting a second 20 year old man, and pulled off dragging his victims beneath the wheels. Detective Inspector Chris Soole, from Tower Hamlets, said, “This sentence reflects the gravity of his actions that day. The court had previously heard that Islam was behind the wheel of a Range Rover which he used as a weapon when he deliberately drive at a group of men who were celebrating Eid-al-Fitr.” He added, “Two of the men required hospital treatment; one of whom is still receiving medical care. It is fortunate that no one else was harmed.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said, “A number of other people have been arrested as part of this investigation and remain on bail. Enquiries are ongoing.”
