Camden , Tottenham, Jan 11, 2006 (Camden Gazette) – A TURF war between two Somali gangs has left a young man fighting for his life in hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the 21-year-old, who has not been named, was involved in violent clashes between two groups of Somali youths in the early hours of December 19.

Officers believe one gang is based in Camden and the other in Haringey.

The victim was taken to hospital after being stabbed and hit over the head with a paving slab. Another man in his early 20s, was also knifed and suffered head injuries, but was later released from hospital.

Officers are investigating three separate fights between the two gangs, which took place that morning.

Swords, knives, bricks and bottles are thought to have been used as weapons, and around 40 male youths were involved.

The violence first flared up at around 1:45am in Burgoyne Road , Camden , and the second in Ducketts Common, Harringay, at around 2am.

The most serious incident, which involved the men being hospitalised, was at 3am outside McDonald's in Green Lanes, close to the junction of Hermitage Road , Harringay.

DC Paul Hawthorn, of Tottenham CID, said: "The victim's condition is stable but critical and we are treating this incident as an attempted murder.

"Although the Somali community are renowned for having fights among one another, this type of violence is rare.

"We believe there is hostility between the two borough's gangs and that the fight was geographical."

DS Alan Dawson, also from Tottenham CID, said: "We need the help of the Somali community to identify those responsible for these incidents.

"We would urge people to stay calm and would appeal to the community to come forward to give us as much help as possible in preventing further incidents."

Anyone with information about any of these incidents should contact the incident room at Tottenham police station on 0208 345 0806 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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