> ############################################################
>
> Reported in yesterday's online version of The London Evening Standard
>
> Hot-dog trade feeds Turkish terror
>
> by Danny Buckland
>
> A Turkish terror group that infiltrated the May Day riots is
> believed to have muscled in on the illicit London hot-dog
> trade to fund its murderous campaign.
>
> Rogue traders claim to have had death threats from
> members of an extreme Left-wing organisation responsible
> for several assassinations and the murder of at least three
> US military personnel in Turkey.
>
> Extremist members of the group (which supports the IRA)
> were spotted at the core of the May Day violence, and
> were identified in the attack on a branch of McDonald's.
>
> The organised gang, known as DHKP or Dev Sol, has
> been accused of moving in on the lucrative hot-dog and
> burger trade that blights central London. A Channel 5
> documentary to be shown tonight reveals that several
> traders have been told to hand over takings (up to £1,000
> a day per trader) or face death.
>
> One West End trader, called only Shefkit, said: "You pay
> or get killed." He added that he had been threatened by
> gangs up to 50 strong.
>
> He says the thugs bring people from Turkey illegally.
> "They threaten us. They come to our home. They find my
> employees and tell them 'Don't work for this man, work
> for us'.
>
> "The other day, they were following my car again. One car
> cut me in the front and another stopped behind. They
> pulled out their guns. I had to get out of my car. They beat
> me and we fought there.
>
> "During the fight I phoned the police. They arrived but
> nothing happened. They said I was free to go and asked
> who I suspected.
>
> "I said, Dev Sol. I even took photos and sent them to the
> police. They said 'If you want to, stop working. You will
> either lose your job or your life'. "
>
> Shefkit added: "The latest threats said 'We warned you
> before. You are thick and you don't understand. We are
> warning you one last time. We already told you our people
> on the mountains are hungry. They want ammunition. They
> want guns'."
>
> Scotland Yard is studying evidence of the May Day riot to
> identify supporters of three militant Turkish Communist
> groups. They wore red scarves over their faces and swiftly
> vanished when police moved in.
>
> A series of initials daubed over statues and memorials has
> been identified as the terror group's signatures. Dev Sol,
> suspected of funding its activities through robbery and
> extortion in London, is anti-British and dedicated to
> overthrowing capitalism.
>
> Another trader told Channel 5: "These people said we had
> to pull out. We didn't say anything because there was quite
> a few of them. They asked me to go to a meeting but I
> didn't go and they phoned me and said I had broken the
> rules.
>
> "Then a car with five people and a van with two people
> followed my brother and nephew along Oxford Street and
> around the West End. They use all sorts of tactics."
>
> He added that one hot-dog man, who refused to hand
> over money, had 15 burger barrows destroyed by Dev
> Sol. If any of their enforcers are identified by the victims,
> the organisation spirits him out of the country before the
> police can take action.
>
> The hot-dog trade is a money-spinning black market. Last
> year Westminster council seized 690 trolleys, which cost
> around £300 each, but there is no let-up.
>
> On one day last year, almost 50 illicit trolleys were
> operating in St James's Park and the single official food
> outlet claims to have lost around £250,000 over the year.
>
> Parliament is moving to provide increased powers for the
> police, but for now they use immigration laws or trading
> regulations to move illegal sellers on.
>
> Hot dog Wars can be seen on Channel 5 tonight at
> 8pm.
>
> ############################################################
--- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
