How West London area is blighted by turf war where mobs 'settle scores'

The horrifying 'assassination' of a 15-year-old boy at a pre-Notting Hill Carnival music event is a stark illustration of the divisions that continue to blight the West London neighbourhood of Ladbroke Grove.

Rene Graham was surrounded by parents and children when he was gunned down at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park - also known as 'Teletubbies Park' - in the north of Kensington and Chelsea at 7.20pm on Sunday.

The borough has the distinction of being both Britain's richest and one of the most unequal, with multi-million pound houses standing cheek by jowl with areas blighted by crime.

Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park is in the W10 postcode, close to the border with W9. Locals claim there have been raised 'tensions' between gangs of youths in the two areas, which are separated by a footbridge running over a canal.

The shooting took place outside Park Lime, a regular event that takes place before the Notting Hill Carnival. While the carnival remains a popular event attracting millions, police warn it can serve as a catalyst for violence as rival gangs come together in one cramped area.

Europe's largest street party, which takes place next months, begun in 1966 as a celebration of Caribbean culture and music.

But in recent years it has been marred by outbreaks of violence, with 2023 seeing 10 stabbings and more than 300 arrests, prompting Rick Prior, vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, to call the level of violence as 'unsustainable'.

Roy Ramm, former commander of specialist operations at the Met, previously said gangs 'seem to reject the spirit of carnival' and 'take the opportunity to settle scores' while former Met PC Ken Marsh called it a 'perfect storm' for violence.

Sunday's Park Lime event was promoted by the Caribbean Music Association on its Facebook page, which urged 'carnival groupies' to attend - adding: 'Don't miss out on the family fun. Good weather, good food, good vibes.'

Witnesses described crowds of parents and children scattering as bullets were fired into the area before Rene Graham, a local teenager, was tragically shot dead.

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of murder, with two of those in custody aged 21 and the others aged 20 and 25. They were taken into custody after armed police raided buildings on the Kensal New Town Estate, it is understood.

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Locals claim that two gangs operating near the area have been involved in a long running 'war' with each other - the Ladbroke Grove Boys (LGB), who are based on the Kensal New Town Estate, and the Harrow Road Boys (HRB) from the Mozart Estate.

Beverley Campbell who was at the Park Lime event told MailOnline: 'Everybody around here knows about the war between the LGB and HRB. This is quite a rough area and gang members attacking each other is not a new thing.'

She revealed that soon after the shooting, Rene's distraught mother arrived at the scene but was not allowed to see his body as police had sealed off the area. She was then joined by his father and other relatives.

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