Beorn
06-01-2009, 07:35 PM
Major manhunt launched as police reveal 16 of the world's most wanted men are on the run in the UK
Four of the world's most wanted criminals are on the run in the UK, it has been revealed today.
The dangerous fugitives, all Eastern Europeans who have entered Britain perfectly legally, have been named and pictured in a public appeal to find them.
They are among 16 foreigners who are thought to be hiding out in this country.
Those on the run in London are three Poles and a Lithuanian wanted for violent sexual assaults, drug trafficking, people smuggling, fraud and robbery.
Under European Union rules, they would have been able to enter the country without a visa.
Some of those on the wanted list may, however, have entered the country illegally and are now living under false identities.
The shocking list will increase pressure on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith as critics will ask how such dangerous criminals are able to slip into Britain
Police have warned that all are considered to be dangerous and some may have access to weapons.
Detectives have warned members of the public not to attempt to apprehend any of the men.
The public manhunt achieved success within hours when a 17th man, Hungarian Balaz Asztalos was arrested at a fairground ride in Milton Keynes on Sunday.
The 25-year-old was caught running a bungee jump as part of a travelling fair in the city. He is suspected of raping a four-year-old girl and forcing another child to watch.
His details were first published yesterday and Thames Valley police arrested him after information received from a member of the public.
All the most wanted in the UK come from several countries including Poland, Georgia, Lithunaia, Hungary and Albania. The majority - eight - are Albanian.
They are thought to be living in areas including London, Middlesex, Sussex, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire.
Lord Ashcroft, who founded Crimestoppers, said: 'The initiative is well and truly an international one. Fugitives hide across the globe in all communities, large and small.
'When you look at the criminals that are on the most wanted list they are truly horrible people and need to be caught.'
Operation Infra, which stands for International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest, is the charity's first worldwide hunt for suspects.
Up to 120 further suspected criminals were included on a wanted list circulated in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Holland, Australia and Belgium.
The move follows the success of a similar operation in southern coastal Spain, a notorious hide-out for British criminals.
Dave Cording, of Crimestoppers, said it is impossible to say how many suspected criminals are hiding in Britain or whether they are responsible for further crimes.
He said: 'There will be some intelligence that suggests these individuals have been or are in the UK and these are serious offences.
'We felt these are individuals where there is a good chance of tracking them down and arresting them.'
He added: 'We get people who are committing crime elsewhere here in the UK, hiding among our communities.
'Crimestoppers has enjoyed notable success in helping UK law enforcement track down UK fugitives hiding in Spain, so we are confident that the public will yet again help us to locate this new set of internationally wanted criminals.'
Other organisations involved in the move included the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Metropolitan Police.
David Armond, international director at Soca, said: 'Crimestoppers has been a major success, shrinking the globe and depriving
criminals of places to hide.
'Soca places great value on our collaboration and we are fully behind this new fugitives initiative.'
The wanted named in the UK appeal are:
Balaz Asztalos, 25, Hungarian, wanted for rape (arrested yesterday).
Piotr Bielecki, 37, Polish, wanted for a sex assault. Arrested in London last year but absconded after getting bail. Thought to be in London.
Tomasz Galas, 27, Polish, wanted for drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud and sexual assault. Believed to be in south London.
Giedrus Jankauskas, 29, Lithuanian, wanted for robbery. Suspected to be living in London.
Bogumil Kaczmarkczyk, 29, Polish, sought for rape and murder. Thought to be hiding in Sussex.
Radoslaw Kawa, 28, Polish, wanted for an alleged violent sex assault. Associated with the London, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire areas. Believed to work in the building trade.
Norman Misarko, 32, Polish, wanted for assaults. Location unknown.
Andras Mozes, 22, Hungarian, wanted for growing cannabis. Thought to be in Nottingham.
Gentian Doda, 30, Albanian, wanted for two revenge murders.
Durim Gremaj, 35, Albanian, wanted for sex offences.
Agim Kabashi, 39, Albanian, wanted for child sex crimes and organising prostitution.
Xhevat Kaca, 33, Albanian, wanted for sex crimes.
Sherif Murati, 41, Albanian, wanted for murder.
Nikolla Naci, 44, Albanian, wanted for use of weapons and explosives and drug trafficking.
Ivane Sepashvili, 26, Georgian, wanted for murder.
Dritan Shkurti, 33, Albanian, wanted for murder.
Shaqir Ziko, Albanian, 27, wanted for armed robbery.
Source (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190033/Major-manhunt-launched-police-reveal-16-worlds-wanted-men-run-UK.html)
Four of the world's most wanted criminals are on the run in the UK, it has been revealed today.
The dangerous fugitives, all Eastern Europeans who have entered Britain perfectly legally, have been named and pictured in a public appeal to find them.
They are among 16 foreigners who are thought to be hiding out in this country.
Those on the run in London are three Poles and a Lithuanian wanted for violent sexual assaults, drug trafficking, people smuggling, fraud and robbery.
Under European Union rules, they would have been able to enter the country without a visa.
Some of those on the wanted list may, however, have entered the country illegally and are now living under false identities.
The shocking list will increase pressure on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith as critics will ask how such dangerous criminals are able to slip into Britain
Police have warned that all are considered to be dangerous and some may have access to weapons.
Detectives have warned members of the public not to attempt to apprehend any of the men.
The public manhunt achieved success within hours when a 17th man, Hungarian Balaz Asztalos was arrested at a fairground ride in Milton Keynes on Sunday.
The 25-year-old was caught running a bungee jump as part of a travelling fair in the city. He is suspected of raping a four-year-old girl and forcing another child to watch.
His details were first published yesterday and Thames Valley police arrested him after information received from a member of the public.
All the most wanted in the UK come from several countries including Poland, Georgia, Lithunaia, Hungary and Albania. The majority - eight - are Albanian.
They are thought to be living in areas including London, Middlesex, Sussex, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire.
Lord Ashcroft, who founded Crimestoppers, said: 'The initiative is well and truly an international one. Fugitives hide across the globe in all communities, large and small.
'When you look at the criminals that are on the most wanted list they are truly horrible people and need to be caught.'
Operation Infra, which stands for International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest, is the charity's first worldwide hunt for suspects.
Up to 120 further suspected criminals were included on a wanted list circulated in the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Holland, Australia and Belgium.
The move follows the success of a similar operation in southern coastal Spain, a notorious hide-out for British criminals.
Dave Cording, of Crimestoppers, said it is impossible to say how many suspected criminals are hiding in Britain or whether they are responsible for further crimes.
He said: 'There will be some intelligence that suggests these individuals have been or are in the UK and these are serious offences.
'We felt these are individuals where there is a good chance of tracking them down and arresting them.'
He added: 'We get people who are committing crime elsewhere here in the UK, hiding among our communities.
'Crimestoppers has enjoyed notable success in helping UK law enforcement track down UK fugitives hiding in Spain, so we are confident that the public will yet again help us to locate this new set of internationally wanted criminals.'
Other organisations involved in the move included the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the Metropolitan Police.
David Armond, international director at Soca, said: 'Crimestoppers has been a major success, shrinking the globe and depriving
criminals of places to hide.
'Soca places great value on our collaboration and we are fully behind this new fugitives initiative.'
The wanted named in the UK appeal are:
Balaz Asztalos, 25, Hungarian, wanted for rape (arrested yesterday).
Piotr Bielecki, 37, Polish, wanted for a sex assault. Arrested in London last year but absconded after getting bail. Thought to be in London.
Tomasz Galas, 27, Polish, wanted for drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud and sexual assault. Believed to be in south London.
Giedrus Jankauskas, 29, Lithuanian, wanted for robbery. Suspected to be living in London.
Bogumil Kaczmarkczyk, 29, Polish, sought for rape and murder. Thought to be hiding in Sussex.
Radoslaw Kawa, 28, Polish, wanted for an alleged violent sex assault. Associated with the London, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire areas. Believed to work in the building trade.
Norman Misarko, 32, Polish, wanted for assaults. Location unknown.
Andras Mozes, 22, Hungarian, wanted for growing cannabis. Thought to be in Nottingham.
Gentian Doda, 30, Albanian, wanted for two revenge murders.
Durim Gremaj, 35, Albanian, wanted for sex offences.
Agim Kabashi, 39, Albanian, wanted for child sex crimes and organising prostitution.
Xhevat Kaca, 33, Albanian, wanted for sex crimes.
Sherif Murati, 41, Albanian, wanted for murder.
Nikolla Naci, 44, Albanian, wanted for use of weapons and explosives and drug trafficking.
Ivane Sepashvili, 26, Georgian, wanted for murder.
Dritan Shkurti, 33, Albanian, wanted for murder.
Shaqir Ziko, Albanian, 27, wanted for armed robbery.
Source (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190033/Major-manhunt-launched-police-reveal-16-worlds-wanted-men-run-UK.html)