Burka-Clad Gang Jailed for Fatal London Rapper Revenge Attack
Four men disguised in burkas have been handed life sentences for a brutal revenge raid that left two rappers dead and another seriously wounded in East London.
Bloodbath in Ilford Home: Two Rappers Killed, One Left for Dead
Saydi Abu Sheikh, 23, and Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed, 31, were found shot and stabbed in a bedroom during the savage five-minute attack last October in Ilford. Saydi suffered 28 stab wounds and was shot four times. Zakariya was stabbed five times and hit by at least seven bullets. A third victim, Khalid Khalid, survived despite being shot six times, including a terrifying bullet that passed through his head, damaging his skull, brain, and teeth.
24-Hour Horror: Police Find ‘Scene of Bloody Carnage’
Prosecutor John Price KC revealed that a neighbour dialled 999 just after midnight after hearing a loud bang and spotting a car on fire nearby. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes to a “scene of bloody carnage” inside the flat.
“In an upstairs room were two young men, both dead or dying. They had each been shot and stabbed many times. A third young man, gravely wounded, had been left for dead,” said the prosecutor.
One man miraculously survived gunshots through his head. Meanwhile, a fourth man fled out the back of the property as the attackers stormed in with guns. A fifth victim hid between a bed and wall, escaping discovery by the raiders.
Revenge Plot Led by Gangster Behind Bars
The killers set off from a “mission control” flat a few miles away, hiding their identities under burkas. The attack was orchestrated by Zain Mirza, who ordered the reprisals in revenge for his brother’s 2019 murder. Though still serving a drug sentence in prison, Mirza arranged the murders from behind bars after his release while keeping at “arm’s length.”
Saydi, aka Giddy, and Zakariya, known as 1 Shifty, were part of the Drillford crew. CCTV caught the gang on camera outside the flat, sealing their fate.
Justice Served: Four Jailed for 38 Years Total
Today, the four men were sentenced to 38 years collectively for their “unspeakable act of extreme violence” that ended the lives of two young men and left one fighting for his life.
