Detectives investigating the rape of a teenage girl in Bethnal Green more than two years ago have named two men they want to trace and speak to, saying one is believed to still be in the UK while the other may have travelled to Bangladesh.
Police have named Showkoth Ahmed, aged 31, and Jahidul Hassan Jaigirdar, aged 34, as the two men detectives need to trace in connection with the investigation. Both men are from Bangladesh and have links to Tower Hamlets, police said.
Ahmed is believed to remain in the UK. Jaigirdar is believed to have travelled to Bangladesh. Police said both men are believed to have fled on the day of the public appeal, and that extensive efforts were continuing to establish their whereabouts.
The naming marks a significant step forward in an investigation that began in August 2024. It follows a public appeal in September this year, after which detectives say information from members of the public helped move the inquiry forward.
What happened in August 2024
An investigation began at about 11.30pm on 1 August 2024, after a 13-year-old girl reported that she had been raped. She told police she had seen two men on Whitechapel Road, who led her into Weavers Fields, where the rape took place.
A member of the public later found the girl and helped her. Since the report, detectives have reviewed CCTV footage, carried out forensic examinations and spoken to possible witnesses.
Officers have also stayed in regular contact with the girl and her family, and police said they had ensured access to specialist support services and safeguarding measures.
How the September appeal led to today’s naming
Following an appeal on 18 September, police received information from members of the public. Detectives said that information had helped move the investigation forward and led to this stage of the enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Anna Deighton, who is leading the investigation, said: “We have carried out extensive enquiries since this offence was reported.”
She added: “I would like to thank everyone who responded to our appeal in September and provided information to police. The information we received has helped progress our investigation and led us to this stage of our enquiries.”
Deighton said: “We are now naming Ahmed and Jaigirdar as men we need to trace and speak to. We believe Ahmed remains in the UK and Jaigirdar may have travelled to Bangladesh.”
We previously reported on the hunt for the two men after the September appeal, and covered the renewed appeal issued two years on from the attack.
Timeline: from the attack to today’s naming
1 August 2024, about 11.30pm: A 13-year-old girl reports she has been raped after being led from Whitechapel Road into Weavers Fields. A member of the public later finds her and helps her.
August 2024 onwards: Detectives review CCTV footage, carry out forensic examinations and speak to possible witnesses, while staying in regular contact with the girl and her family.
18 September 2026: Police issue a public appeal, releasing images of two men they want to speak to. Information from the public follows.
29 October 2026: Police name Showkoth Ahmed and Jahidul Hassan Jaigirdar as the men they need to trace and speak to, saying Ahmed is believed to remain in the UK and Jaigirdar may have travelled to Bangladesh.
What being “named to trace and speak to” means
Being named by police in this way is not the same as being charged with an offence. It means detectives want to find the men and speak to them as part of an ongoing investigation. Neither man has been charged in connection with this case, and no court proceedings have been brought against them at this stage.
Police appeals of this kind are used when detectives believe members of the public may know where a person is, or may have information that could help locate them. In this case, police say the information received after the September appeal is what allowed them to reach the point of naming the two men.
The case is also a reminder of how long complex investigations can take. More than two years have passed since the attack was reported, and detectives have stressed that enquiries have continued throughout that period, including forensic work and witness interviews.
Reward and how to help
A £10,000 reward remains available through the independent charity Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Information can be given anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org. The charity said callers would not be asked for their name or identity.
Detectives have urged anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward, particularly anyone who knows where either man is now.
In a separate recent case, a man was arrested over a Woolwich shooting after the victim was left in a critical condition, showing how public appeals and fresh information continue to move long-running investigations forward.
