Parking row ends in death

Two wealthy businessmen have been shot dead after an argument with a gang of youths over a parking space.

Amarjit Singh, 52, and his nephew Raginder Singh, 35, died in the road outside the hotel they owned in east London.

Murder detectives are now hunting a gang of three men seen attacking Amarjit Singh's van moments before the pair were murdered.

As forensics officers combed the scene for evidence, grieving members of the men's family were attempting to keep the hotel in Forest Gate running as normal.

One relative described how the two were shot after asking a group of men to move their car from the hotel's private parking space.

The family member, who asked not to be identified, said: "There were two cars parked outside the back of the hotel. Amarjit and Raj went out and told them to move their cars.

One of them moved their car, no problem. But there was another with youngsters in it, who didn't move straightaway.

"There were words between them but they went. About 15 or 20 minutes later they returned and starting smashing up our van."

He said the two men heard the gang attacking their vehicle and went out to investigate. It was then that they were shot.

Each of the victims was married with two children. The family have owned the successful hotel on Romford Road for about 10 years. Amarjit, known locally as Mark, and Raginder, known as Raj, were also involved in other family businesses in Forest Gate.

A police source said: "These men were not known to us before this incident and there is nothing to suggest they were anything but respectable businessmen."

Neighbours today are in shock over the shootings. Surinder Kumar, owner of the Dewana Social Club next to the hotel, said: "These two were decent men. It was very distressing when I heard what had happened. I have never heard of anything like it around here.

"It is such a stupid thing to kill people over," he added.

Detectives from the serious crime directorate said the three men who attacked Amarjit Singh's van were seen running from the scene of the killing in Atherton Mews into Norwich Road and towards Romford Road at about 2.20pm on Friday.

A police spokesman said: "At this stage it is not known what type of weapon was involved, but we believe that a number of shots were fired at each victim.

"It has been established that immediately preceding the shooting Mr Amarjit Singh's vehicle was attacked and damaged by three men who we believe were of Asian appearance."

Mr Singh and his nephew lived with their families in a three-storey home surrounded by trees and at least three acres of grounds in an affluent part of Chigwell, Essex.

The formidable property, which sits at the end of a 200-yard driveway, is protected by a nine-foot wrought iron electrically operated gate with a separate lodge on the grounds. It is believed to house three generations of the Singh family.

Last night a distraught relative declined to comment on the tragedy.

The double shooting comes as gun crime continues to escalate to record levels in the capital.

One of the worst-affected boroughs, Brent, has suffered the biggest rise since the late Nineties, with three shot dead, 45 attempted murders and eight non-fatal shootings in the space of six months.

In April, more than 50 people confronted police when an 18-year-old man was shot dead in a suspected Yardie killing.

The area of Hackney where the murder took place has become known as "murder mile" because of its reputation for black-on-black shootings.

Anyone with information about the shootings of Amarjit and Raginder Singh should call the incident room on 020 8345 1570.