It was a bank holiday in the UK on Monday, August 28th, 2000. Twenty-eight-year-old Hounslow insurance salesman Abdul Bhatti, along with many others, was attending the Notting Hill Carnival in North Kensington, London, England.
A gang of up to fifty young people, comprised largely of black males in their teens and early twenties, had been rampaging through the carnival that afternoon and evening, indulging in a criminal pastime known as “steaming,” i.e. strong-arming their way through the crowds and robbing carnival attendees.
According to witnesses, they also seemed to be targeting stalls manned by Asians, throwing cans and bottles at the proprietors.
At around seven-thirty p.m., members of this gang approached Abdul and his friend, possibly trying to get their hands on the friend’s gold chain. Abdul intervened on his friend’s behalf, at which point the gang began beating him savagely.
After the attack, Abdul was taken to the hospital, but his head injuries were too severe, and he died the following day.
Although part of the gang’s reign of terror was captured on CCTV, the assault on Abdul Bhatti was sadly not recorded.
Shortly afterward, two arrests were made in connection with the crime, but both suspects were released without charge.
In 2012, nine members of this gang, known as the Hackney Posse, were jailed for charges relating to the Notting Hill Carnival incident. Still, none were specifically charged with Abdul Bhatti’s murder, which authorities believe was racially motivated.
The investigation remains active, but there has been no further progress in the case since then.
Crime Immemorial 