Murder charges over severed thumb kidnapping
FIVE men have been charged with the murder of a Whitechapel restaurant worker whose severed thumb was found in Ilford. Hertfordshire police charged the five last week following a 10-week investigation after Mahmood Ahmad, who worked in the Lahore Kebab Ho
FIVE men have been charged with the murder of a Whitechapel restaurant worker whose severed thumb was found in Ilford.
Hertfordshire police charged the five last week following a 10-week investigation after Mahmood Ahmad, who worked in the Lahore Kebab House in Umberston Street, was kidnapped from outside his home in Watford on March 7.
They had already been charged with Mr Ahmad's kidnap but were charged with his murder on Wednesday last week.
Detective Chief Inspector Melanie Burn, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, is leading the investigation.
She said: "Mahmood's body has not been found. However, following our extensive investigation we now believe Mahmood has been murdered."
Detectives are also making new appeals for information about a car believed to be connected with the investigation.
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The car is an old style dark blue Honda Civic, registration V369 GUP, with a creamy-brown interior. The model is a VTEC SE Automatic 5-door car with alloy wheels.
Chief Insp Burn added: "Officers have been following vast numbers of inquiries and as part of our investigations we also now believe the Honda to be linked to the investigation.
"Information about this vehicle could prove vital to our investigation and we are appealing for anyone to come forward who might have seen this car any time since the end of December last year, up to Mahmood's disappearance in March and afterwards or has any information about it."
Two women have been charged in connection with Mr Ahmad's disappearance. A 35-year-old woman from Ilford is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to falsely imprison and a 41-year-old woman from Leicester is charged with assisting an offender.
A man in his 30s from Croydon arrested in connection with the incident has been re-bailed by police until June.
Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact the incident room on 01707 355798 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
