News Item - News - Surrey Police

Did you witness racially motivated incident at Ewell kebab house?

Submitted: 27/07/2010 12:00:57

Did you witness racially motivated incident?

Police in Ewell are appealing for a number of people to come forward who they believe were in a kebab shop moments before it was targeted in a racially motivated incident.

It is believed around 10 customers were in Samir Kebab House at 1am on Saturday, 24 July when the incident happened.

Three suspects, who are all male, walked into the bathroom area of the kebab house and blocked the sink, causing the floor to flood. They then moved back into the main area and began to racially abuse a member of staff. All three suspects then squeezed the contents of mayonnaise bottles around the floor, walls and windows, and also outside on the pavement area and onto a neighbouring premises. They then left the scene and walked in the direction of the main High Street.

The customers walked out of the kebab house moments after the incident began and officers are appealing for them to come forward.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Vicki Morris said: “We know there were a number of customers inside the kebab house when the suspects walked in and we are keen to speak to these people as they may have vital information which could help our investigation. Any form of hate crime is a serious offence, and something we simply will not tolerate. Threatening, abusive and racially motivated language is unacceptable and we will prosecute anyone committing a hate crime with the full force of the law.

“We are working closely with colleagues on the neighbourhood teams to find the people responsible and I am appealing to the wider community to work with us to ensure these types of incidents do not happen. If you do have information relating to this crime and have not yet spoken to the police, then please come forward. Together we can stamp out hate crime and ensure those responsible for this despicable behaviour are brought to justice.”

The first suspect is described as white, medium build, muscular, with blond shaven hair and either blue or green eyes. He was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans and stated he was called either Jim or Jimmy.

The second suspect is described as white, fat, around 6ft tall with short dark hair. The third suspect is also white, around 5ft 7ins tall and muscular with mousey-coloured shaven hair. He had a tattoo on his left arm and was wearing jeans with a sky blue-coloured T-shirt.

Detectives are investigating similarities between this incident and one which occurred last month at Sam’s Kebabs in Epsom.

The Epsom and Ewell Safer Neighbourhood Team will be carrying out extra patrols in the area to reassure the community and to ensure the area remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

If you were in Samir Kebab House in Ewell when the three suspects came in, or if you were in the area at the time of the incident and remember seeing a commotion inside the premises please contact DC Morris at Epsom CID on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference EP/10/3387.