London gang war feared after crime lord beaten to death

Gangs of Romanian thugs could be dragged into a violent turf war on UK soil after an immigrant crime lord was beaten to death. Drug and people trafficker Sorin Serbu, 36, was ambushed and clubbed unconscious by up to five masked thugs. He died in hospital following the incident outside Global Romanian Bar in Ilford, East London. Police fear Serbu’s killing will trigger more violence. Serbu made millions from drugs and prostitution in Western Europe before moving his empire to Italy. His move into London was resisted by Romanian gangs already there. Serbu tried to muscle in and imported around 100 prostitutes.

The arrival of competition like that rocked the boat. A savage crowbar beating of a Romanian in Luton is linked to Serbu's death. A supporter said in a Romanian Facebook post: “Whoever did this will be turned to dust.”