Two suspects held in London over armed robbery of Emirati couple

Both men, in their 20s, were arrested in Kilburn, London, on suspicion of robbing an Emirati couple in their flat in Westbourne Gardens.

Ali Al Tamimi, a 51-year-old Emirati from Dubai, said he feared for his life and his wife had been unable to sleep because she kept reliving the moment one of the robbers pointed a gun at her head. RaShow more

ABU DHABI // Two men were arrested yesterday by detectives investigating the attack on an Emirati couple and their friend in a London flat.

The Metropolitan police said the men, both in their 20s, were arrested in Kilburn, London, on suspicion of armed robbery.

They were in custody at a central London police station. Authorities in England can hold suspects for 24 hours, after which they must be charged or released.

But in cases of serious crime, officers can apply to a judge for permission to keep suspects in custody for up to 96 hours.

Police were called at about 1.10am on April 22 to reports of an armed robbery at a flat in Westbourne Gardens, Paddington.

Ali Al Tamimi, 51, and his 47-year-old wife, from Dubai, were being visited by a friend, an Emirati, when a gang of seven people stormed the Paddington flat, brandishing guns, a butcher’s knife and hammers.

As many as five of the robbers were wearing masks from the horror film Scream, Mr Al Tamimi told The National .

He told of how he feared for his life and said his wife had been unable to sleep because she kept reliving the moment one of the robbers pointed a gun at her head in the bedroom of the flat.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the men stole two mobile phones, worth about Dh4,000, £2,400 (Dh14,900) in cash, two passports, handbags and a bank card.

“We believe the victims in this case were not targeted because of their nationality,” he said. “We are being assisted by our policing counterparts in UAE and a senior police officer from the UAE is currently in London working alongside Metropolitan Police officers.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged UAE citizens to use cautionary measures when travelling abroad, especially in the UK.

Rashid Al Dhaheri, the director of citizens’ affairs at the ministry, said it would support citizens by offering advice. They included registration for Tawajedi services (My Whereabouts), which help UAE nationals who face emergencies or crises when they are abroad.

The ministry also advised citizens to save mobile text messages from the ministry when they arrived at their destination, which contained contact numbers for the UAE Embassy in that country.