Police have arrested three men in connection with a series of attacks on cyclists in the Walthamstow Marshes area, including the knifepoint theft of a bike.
There have been more than five gang attacks on people riding through the area, according to Zoie O'Brien of the Waltham Forest Guardian.
A cyclist was attacked by a group of 12 men on Sunday April 5. He was threatened with a knife and hit on the head before his bike and other items were stolen.
On March 24 another rider was punched to the ground and his bike stolen by a gang on the same route.
Officers from Hackney arrested three men last Thursday. They were questioned at a station in Stoke Newington and bailed unti May 20.
Enquiries continue and other suspects “remain unidentified” according to police, though it has not been confirmed what the men were arrested on suspicion of.
The Metropolitan Police has not responded to road.cc's requests for comments on the spate of attacks and thefts on cyclists, or advice on how cyclists should keep themselves safe.
Simon Munk of Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign told Waltham Forest Guardian the police response had been poor.
Munk said: “Keep cycling, but keep your wits about you.
“What’s worrying is most of these attacks aren’t taking place in the dark but in the early evening.
“Maybe consider 'buddying up' by riding alongside others when going through isolated areas.”
8 thoughts on “Three arrested after gang attacks on cyclists in North London”
London 2015, cyclists to
London 2015, cyclists to travel in caravans (old sense of the word) to save guard themselves against attack, how medieval
I’ve seen groups of young
I’ve seen groups of young guys milling around there as I dash through. Ironically enough these events appear to be happening just a few weeks after Sustrans were on the marsh doing surveys and handing out chocolate brownies.
Be safe out there. Think and assess clearly.
I think I saw one of them
I think I saw one of them being arrested.
It’s something i worry about
It’s something i worry about on my nightly commutes home. I often see gangs eying me up. Too easy a target.
Memoirs of a Survivor – Doris
Memoirs of a Survivor – Doris Lessing, the breakdown of a society into anarchy.
This is another reason for
This is another reason for having a cheap hack for commuting. A basic Carrera or Decathlon can be inexpensive to buy but still good enough quality for regular commuting. Keep the good bike for training rides.
Sympathy to the victims –
Sympathy to the victims – very scary.
My part of the world. Very easy down Coppermill lane way to mug a cyclist – many remote points where you have to slow down, or easy to block a lane. Hmmmm…. (thinks hard about that helmet cam idea)
I have ridden past groups of young men down there myself – they can be very intimidating. I make sure I am riding very fast and my very bright light is pointed up to eye level in such a case – less likely to attack a UFO?!
Ironically less of a problem in winter as no one but mad cyclists want to be down there in the proper dark and cold.
Problem probably just that one group, so it should diminish now. Not exactly the cleverest crime is it? More thrills than a serious money maker.
Cut backs on police funding,
Cut backs on police funding, no policemen on the beat leading to ‘reported crime’ down. Police stations closed, police stations undermanned. Police crime commissioner quangos and rising distrust in crime figures, look no further.