There are some unresolved questions following the incident on Hermon Hill on Wednesday which it would be good if the Met Police could answer. Judging by the theories, claims and allegations being made on social media (just see the Wanstead-related tweets on this page), some clarification could almost certainly help.
The questions include:
- How seriously is the incident being taken by police and is there an active investigation into it?
- Were there witnesses to the attack and have they been interviewed?
- Did any witnesses hear anything being shouted during the incident?
- Is there CCTV covering the area in question and is it being investigated?
- Do the police have descriptions of the culprits and are they actively seeking them?
- Were the attackers known to the victim?
- Do the police believe that the reports published in local newspapers are an accurate reflection of what happened?
- Is there any reason for Wanstead residents to be alarmed?
In other news… the Ilford Recorder has now removed the words from its headline and report which it initially said were shouted during the attack. The BBC report did not include the report of those words being shouted, which has led some on social media to claim a conspiracy (but which might alternatively have been for a good reason). The Wanstead Guardian report has not, at the time of writing, been changed.
UPDATE 1300 THURS
BBC News is now reporting that the incident is being treated as a hate crime because of comments made during the attack. No arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing, the BBC says.
UPDATE THURS 1345
This statement now issued by the Met.