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A London doctor wanted over allegations of genocide in Rwanda today welcomed a Scotland Yard probe into the claims, saying: “I’m more than happy to go to court in this country.”

Vincent Brown, 57, denies being a militia leader during the massacres in Rwanda in 1994 which saw an estimated 800,000 people killed.

The married father-of-two settled in Islington 18 years ago and was first arrested over the allegations in 2006.

He spent 27 months in Belmarsh prison before being released. Last year a High Court judge blocked extradition proceedings against Brown and four other alleged war criminals — including the head of an evangelical church in Kent — over fears they would not receive a fair trial in Rwanda.

The Metropolitan Police said its war crimes unit had begun initial inquiries into the allegations following a request from the Rwandan government.

After the Standard informed him of the development, Brown welcomed it as “good news”.

He said: “I’ve been asking since 2006 for something to happen here, and they [the Rwandan government] didn’t want to do it. If the police here go to Rwanda and find there is something I have to answer, I’m more than happy to go to court in this country. If I am found guilty, I will face what I have to face. If I am found innocent, that’s it.

“For the last 12 years I’ve been asking: if you have something against me bring it on in Britain, because I trust the courts in Britain.”

Brown, who changed his name from Bajinya, has always denied genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and premeditated murder during the 1994 atrocities, in which some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by militias from the majority Hutu ethnic group.

He left Rwanda with his family in 1994 and worked as a doctor in Kenya before joining his family in London two years after they moved in 1998. From 2002 he worked for charity Praxis, training refugee medical staff until his first arrest in December 2006.

In an interview at the weekend, Rwanda’s justice minister Busingye Johnston accused Britain of acting as a “safe haven” for war criminals. “Some of the people responsible for all these rapes and murders are on your soil,” he said.

“These are masterminds... who somehow got [UK] citizenship and are getting benefits paid by your taxpayers.”

Brown, who has not returned to work since his imprisonment, denied receiving benefits and said he is supported by his family.

“I can work, but who will give you a job with those allegations hanging over you? It’s false allegations, trumped up charges,” he said.

The Met confirmed its war crimes unit is assessing documents after it “received a request from Rwandan authorities in January to investigate five individuals in the UK in relation to alleged genocide offences in Rwanda.”</s>Two men have been found dead at a house in London after suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and five other people are being treated in hospital.

The deaths were being treated as unexplained but police said they believed that possibly there had been a carbon monoxide leak at the address in Bacon Lane, Edgware, north London.

Officers in Harrow were called to the property at about 1.30pm on Sunday following reports of two men, believed to be aged 38 and 42, who were described as unresponsive.

The London ambulance service also attended the multiple occupancy building. The London fire brigade said its units rushed to the scene at 1.42pm.

Two men, a woman, a young boy and a male infant were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution, the Metropolitan police said. People were also evacuated from a neighbouring house but later allowed to return home.

Scotland Yard said no arrests have been made. A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “These deaths are being treated as unexplained. A postmortem examination will be held in due course. Police in Harrow continue to [work] alongside the Health and Safety Executive, who have been informed.”

There were 53 deaths from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales in 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics.

In the UK, carbon monoxide poisoning in the home accounts for an average of 50 recorded deaths a year and up to 4,000 medical visits, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.</s>Share this article with Google Plus

Two men have died after a possible carbon monoxide leak in north London.

The pair, thought to be aged 38 and 42, were found at an address in Edgware on Sunday afternoon.

Five other people, including two children, were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Scotland Yard said the deaths are being treated as ‘unexplained’ but police believe there was a possible carbon monoxide leak at the property on Bacon Lane.

Officers were called at around 1.30pm to reports of two unresponsive males, finding both men dead when they arrived along with the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.

The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have been made.

‘At this early stage, police believe that there was a possible carbon monoxide leak at the address,’ the force said in a statement.

‘Police in Harrow continue to deal alongside the Health and Safety Executive who have been informed.’

London Fire Brigade said units rushed to the scene at 1.42pm on Sunday.

A spokeswoman said: ‘We have had two males pronounced life extinct by London Ambulance Service.

‘Two adult males, one adult female, one male child and one male infant have also been treated on site for carbon monoxide poisoning and taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.’

MORE: Sadiq Khan calls summit to deal with wave of murders in London

MORE: Child killer Mick Philpott’s surviving son claims his stepmum sexually abused him</s>A man believed to be in his 40s has been shot dead by the Metropolitan police in Romford, east London.

Scotland Yard said it was called at 3.50am on Monday by a man making threats and claiming he was in possession of a firearm at an address in Collier Row.

Firearms officers attended and were informed the man had left carrying a weapon.

A man was shot at 4.45am and pronounced dead at the scene at 5.17am, police said.



The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed and a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The IOPC said investigators had been deployed to the scene and police were beginning post-incident procedures.

Road closures were put in place around the scene of the shooting.

The man is the first person to be shot dead by police officers in England and Wales this year.

There have been 28 fatal shootings by police officers since 1990, according to the charity Inquest. It recorded six fatal police shootings last year, the joint highest in 28 years.

The 2017 tally included the four men shot dead by the Met during the Westminster and London Bridge terrorist attacks.</s>We stand today with the people of Rwanda in commemorating the 1994 genocide during which more than 800,000 men, women, and children were brutally murdered. On this solemn occasion, we remember those who lost their lives and honor the courage of those who risked their lives to save others.

The United States values its strong partnership with Rwanda, and we are inspired by the remarkable progress that Rwanda has made in rebuilding since 1994. We are proud to support Rwanda as it continues to fight impunity for atrocities, lift millions of its people out of poverty, and build a peaceful and prosperous future for its citizens.

We also honor the contributions of Rwandans such as Godelieve Mukasarasi, recipient of the Department’s 2018 International Woman of Courage Award, who have dedicated their lives to fighting for a culture of peace and non-violence in Rwanda. We are inspired by their bravery and dedication to justice and reconciliation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Department of State.
The Metropolitan Police in London launches a war crimes investigation into five men wanted in Rwanda for alleged massacres in 1994. A United Kingdom court previously refused to extradite the men over concerns they may not receive a fair trial.