Seven Kings stabbings: Street brawl killings of three men linked to banqueting hall fight

Three victims of Seven Kings , Ilford stabbing on Sunday night. L:R- Harinder Kumar, Narinder Singh, Baljit Singh (Picture: Family Handout)

The killing of three men in east London has been linked to a fight at a banqueting hall 24 hours earlier which spilled into the road.

Harinder Sharma, 22, Narinder Singh, 26, and 34-year-old Baljit Singh died when violence erupted close to Seven Kings railway station near Ilford on Sunday evening.

One was stabbed in the neck, shoulder and chest, while another had been hit on the head with a hammer in Salisbury Road, witnesses said.

All three were construction workers originally from India.

An evidence tent at the scene where three men were found dead (PA)

Two men, aged 29 and 39, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine said early investigations suggest the five men had been at an event at the nearby Krystel Banqueting hall on Saturday night.

The venue advertises itself as a “distinctive banqueting suite offering a spectacular setting for weddings, conferences and private functions” for up to 1,000 guests.

Police investigate the scene (Nigel Howard)

Mr Considine said on Tuesday: “We now believe all those involved were known to each other and from the Sikh and Hindu community.

"At this early stage, I do not believe this was gang or race-related. But, I believe there may have been an ongoing dispute between those involved.

“We believe the five men were involved in an altercation the previous evening at Krystel Banqueting that spilled out onto the High Road.”

The family of Mr Sharma, who went by the nickname Honey, has said they were “broken” by his death.

Brother-in-law Armit said he had left his hometown of Patalia in India to study in London about nine years ago.

“He was a good man, very down to earth," he said. "I’m surprised how he got involved in this fight. His family are literally broken.”

The scene in Seven Kings (Nigel Howard)

Awais Butt, an employee at a Lycamobile shop near the murder scene in Salisbury Road, paid tribute to Baljit Singh as a “very humble guy”.

He said: “I can’t believe he would get involved in such an incident. It’s really sad, I feel for the families. The community can’t believe it.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3865 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.