Tottenham’s Turkish community is living in fear of an escalating gang war which is bringing ‘shame and fear’ to families across north London.

Zafer Eren was shot dead in Southgate last week

A series of shootings, the latest of which came on Monday with the murder of Zafer Eren, from Tottenham, have led to warnings of a drugs war between Turkish gangs.

Mr Eren was shot in the chest as he left his home in Southgate last Thursday. Police believe his murder may be linked to a shooting of another man in Tottenham on Monday.

On that occasion, a 20-year-old was pursued by up to six men after he was shot in Markfield Park, before eventually taking shelter with a young family.

It is thought the shootings may be linked to an ongoing feud between two gangs: the Tottenham Boys gang and the Bombacilar.

Last year, the head of the Bombacilar gang, Ali Armagan, was shot dead as he sat in his car outside Turnpike Lane station. Last month, two men were cleared of his murder.

The deaths and the suspected war between rival gangs have led to alarm among the Turkish community. Israfil Erbil, chairman of the Alevi Cultural Centre, said those involved represent a threat to the entire community across north London.

He told the Journal: “As a community we do not want to be known by gangs or shootings. Our culture does not deserve it. We want to stop it. There is not much the police can do. “This will go on forever if we do not try to stop it now by working with these men and their families. It will affect the next generation and the generations after that.

These men, they have no sense of belonging, they do not feel part of something. They have no responsibility or respect for anyone. They are uncontrollable and have no principals, they are dangerous. But what they do wrong is felt by the rest of the community.

“Every time I get a call asking me about this I feel shame. The Alevi culture is a peaceful one, it denies hurting and killing people. It is not just Zafer Eren’s family who is affected by this, we are all affected, and it has been going on for so many years, so many have died.

“No-one wants to talk because of the shame associated, but we have to face it.”

MP for Tottenham David Lammy said he was ‘worried’ by the escalating violence and resurgence of organised crime.