May 24, 2002 14:58

POLICE APPEAL AFTER LONDON NIGHTCLUB MURDER

A man dies from head injuries at the Cookies & Cream R&B/garage night in the Scala...

Police in LONDON are appealing for witnesses after drawing a blank over the murder of a man in a crowded nightclub last weekend.

Junaid Shiekh was found suffering from head injuries at the Scala nightclub in Kings Cross in the early hours of last Sunday morning (May 19). He had been at the weekly R&B and garage Cookies & Cream event in the Scala. He was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead just after 4am. "There was an altercation inside the club involving a number of people, which resulted in the victim receiving his injuries," a Met spokesperson has said.

Following initial inquiries, seven men were arrested at the club and taken to a north London police station, where they were bailed to return in July.

Now police are calling for witnesses.

"We hope to jog clubbers' memories," DCI Norman McKinley, the man in charge of the inquiry, has said, "It was a busy night and we believe approximately 750 were in the club at the time of the incident.
"We understand many were from the Asian community, and are asking persons who many have information but have not come forward to do so."

Police say they don't believe the attack was racial.

Anyone with information can call anonymously on 0800 555 111.