Apology after police smash their way into family home
Published: 10 June, 2010
by SIMON WROE
POLICE in King’s Cross have apologised for storming the home of a sleeping family while trying to stop a violent assault in a neighbouring flat.
The Siddiquis were woken by a team of officers who smashed the door of their King’s Cross Road flat with an “Enforcer” battering ram shortly before 1am on Monday.
Around seven officers with batons and riot shields entered the property, kicking open the bedroom doors of the children, Iffat, 17, and Kaif, 12.
Police had received an emergency 999 call about a woman being held against her will by a man armed with a knife in the same block.
Suhel Siddiqui, 43, a charity worker for Age Concern, spoke of his family’s shock at the early hours raid.
“The first thing I knew about it was the banging on the door,” he said. “It was really loud. I came downstairs and asked, ‘Can I help you?’ But they did not answer. They just rushed in. I thought we were being targeted because we were Muslim.
“When they realised they had the wrong house they left. No apology or nothing. I had to chase them down the street.”
His son Kaif said: “I woke up in the dead of night and there they were in my room. One of them asked if I was OK. They were hitting my sister’s door trying to get her to open it. I heard someone outside screaming ‘help’, and I couldn’t understand why they weren’t looking there.”
Officers eventually found the alleged victim in the street in front of the building.
An inspector overseeing the operation visited the Siddiquis a short while later and apologised for the mistake, assuring them costs for a replacement door and window would be covered.
A police spokeswoman said: “The officers used force to enter a flat, believing a woman’s life was in immediate danger.
“We would like to apologise again for any distress and inconvenience caused as a result.”
A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault, false imprisonment and sexual assault. He has been bailed to return at a later date pending further enquiries.