A member of a notorious North London gang has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder following a violent shooting linked to an ongoing turf war between rival Turkish criminal groups operating in London.
The case, heard at the Old Bailey, centred around a targeted attack on Onur Guzel, 38, who was shot outside his father’s well-known Turkish restaurant in Dalston, East London, after allegedly refusing to pay a £100,000 demand linked to gang intimidation.
The court heard that the shooting took place outside Umut 2000, a popular restaurant located in Dalston, on 20 June last year. Prosecutors said the attack was part of a wider conflict between two rival groups known as the Hackney Turks—also referred to as the Bombacilar—and the Tottenham Turks, a violent feud believed to have resulted in multiple killings over the past two decades.
Evidence presented in court suggested that Beytullah Gunduz, 39, a prominent figure linked to the Hackney Turks, had accused Mr Guzel’s family of previously paying £100,000 to rival gang members. He allegedly demanded the same amount, escalating tensions that culminated in the shooting.
CCTV footage played during the trial showed the moment Mr Guzel was struck in the stomach by a single gunshot while on a break from work. He was heard screaming in pain as the attack unfolded in a busy public area. Although he survived, he sustained severe injuries and now lives with long-term medical complications, including the use of a stoma bag.
The gunman, identified as Dogan Over, was seen firing from the passenger window of a white Kia Niro before fleeing the scene. The vehicle was later set on fire shortly after the shooting. Prosecutors told the court that Over escaped to Istanbul following the attack and has not been arrested.
Gunduz was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, marking a major development in the ongoing investigation into gang-related violence in north London. The jury also heard that the attack was part of a broader pattern of retaliatory violence between the rival groups, including previous shootings linked to members of both gangs.
At one point, the court was told that Mr Guzel had previously survived other threats and attacks connected to the same feud. His family’s restaurant had also been targeted in earlier incidents, including a shooting when the premises were empty and another attack involving multiple gunshots outside a related property.
Prosecutors argued that the violence was driven by a cycle of revenge and financial extortion, with alleged “contract hits” ordered in Turkey and carried out in London. The feud has reportedly been linked to more than 20 murders over the past 20 years.
During testimony, Mr Guzel told the court he was speaking to his wife on the phone at the moment he was shot. He also rejected the idea of paying the £100,000 demand, questioning why his family should be forced to hand over money to criminals.
Metropolitan Police officers described the attack as a “calculated and ruthless” act carried out in a public space, warning that it could easily have resulted in multiple fatalities. Detective Inspector Iain Wallace said Gunduz played a central role in orchestrating the shooting and showed complete disregard for public safety.
Gunduz, who has a history of previous convictions dating back to 2008, remains in custody and is due to be sentenced on 2 July.
