Teenagers from Kilburn and Queen’s Park accused of taking part in St John’s Wood riot
Court hears up to 50 men stormed restaurant and tried to set fire to it
Sixteen youths are accused of rampaging through a busy restaurant forcing customers to dive for cover in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Samir Drissi, 18, of Willesden Lane, Kilburn, and Youssef El-Idrissi, 19, of Ilbert Street, Queen’s Park, are among the youths charged with violent disorder following the incident in St John’s Wood.
City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard up to 50 men stormed Le Bijou caf� in a copy-cat looting spree which saw tables being tipped over and a diner being robbed of �1,200 and two mobile phones.
During the violent orgy, chairs were thrown and bottles were smashed before the gang tried to set the restaurant alight.
Other men smashed up a car outside with a bat and tried to ignite it.
The gang were eventually chased away by the brave customers.
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When police officers armed with TASER guns and CS gas arrived they found abandoned lighter fuel, knives, masks and gloves in the street outside.
Drissi and El-Idrissi appeared in court alongside 14 other youths including a teenage charity volunteer and an 18-year-old who is due to start university next month.
Prosecutor Becky Owen said: “Numerous youths, totalling up to 50 in number have broken into two cafes in the locality whilst customers were enjoying drinks.
“They were hooded, they were carrying knives, lighter fluid and cloths in order to ignite it.
“They attempted to set fire to a car but failed to do so, they attempted to set fire to a caf� with customers inside but failed to do so, they also threw missiles.”
None of the suspects entered pleas and many asked for bail, but all 16 were remanded in custody.
They will next appear at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on August 18 to be committed to Wood Green Crown Court on September 8.
