Seven people have been jailed today for their involvement in a Samurai sword attack in Alperton, north-west London.

They were found guilty last month of attempting to murder a 20-year-old man in August 2006 during a gang attack.

A group, believed to have consisted of 25 men, travelled from Newham to Wembley on August 28th armed with samurai swords, pickaxe handles and other weaponry.

Once in Wembley, they ambushed a group of six men in a car park on Braemar Avenue.

The 20-year-old victim and his friends had been travelling en route to play cricket at One Tree Hill.

The two groups clashed and the victim was struck on the head with a bottle.

After he fell to the ground, Kirubananathrada Gunaratam, known as Kiruba, and Santhurajah Thavapalasingham, known as Psycho, attacked him with the samurai swords and attempted to behead him.

The victim attempted to defend himself with a cricket bat he has holding but received a deep gash to his left arm at the elbow partially severing his arm.

Metropolitan police believe the attack on the group was premeditated and that the intention was to kill their victim.

Today, seven men were jailed for their part in the attack.

Gunaratnam, 32, was found guilty of attempted murder and violent disorder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 12 years imprisonment.

Thavapalasingham, 21, was found guilty of similar charges and handed the same sentence.

Sabesan Sivaneswaran, 20, was found guilty of attempted murder and violent disorder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of eight years imprisonment.

Aramugan Paratheeban, 24, was found guilty of similar charges and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of nine and a half years.

Edward Jeganathan, 26, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and violent disorder and sentenced to nine years imprisonment.

Selvarajah Mayuran, 28, was found guilty of the same charges and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.

And Santosh Panthaplavil-Sasidharan, 26, was found guilty of violent disorder and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.

Since the seven were arrested criminal damage in East Ham has fallen by 80 per cent and anti-social behaviour by 50 per cent, police claim.

Superintendent Derrick Griffiths told the court: "This gang of youths were causing a high level of fear within the Tamil community in Newham. East Ham is no longer a crime and disorder hotspot this would not have been achieved unless the activities of these individuals had not been ended."
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