Three men have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a man in Hove last weekend.

A 26-year-old and a 30-year-old, both from Hove, and a 30-year-old from Scaynes Hill, were all held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The men were arrested yesterday (23 May) and are also suspected of having class A drugs with intent to supply.

All three were still in custody this afternoon (Friday 24 May).

Sussex Police said that officers would be returning to the scene of the murder tomorrow evening (Saturday 25 May).

They hope to trace two other men and encourage new witnesses to come forward.

Edmund and Albert Nela

Neighbourhood policing officers will be in Selborne Road, Hove, from 10.30pm showing photographs of Edmund Nela, 30, and his brother Albert, 34.

Detectives believe that Edmund Nela fired the shot that killed 31-year-old Xhem Krasniqi, an Albanian scaffolder from Kent.

Shots were also fired at Mr Krasniqi’s  brother and nephew in Church Road, Hove, by the junction with Selborne Road at about 11.30pm last Saturday (18 May).

Edmund and Albert Nela, who both live locally, have not been seen since the shootings.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Riley, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “We believe the men all knew each other and we are open-minded as to the motive.

“The initial indication is that there is a personal dispute between some members of two families and that this has escalated dramatically, leading to Xhem’s tragic death.

“On Saturday night, the anniversary of the shooting, we will be in the area seeking to learn more from the community about the two men and to talk to any witnesses who have yet to come forward.

“Neighbourhood policing officers will be there completing their house-to-house inquiries and visiting local cafés known to be used by the Albanian community.

“They will be showing people photographs of Edmund and Albert in an effort to gain information about them and where they may be.

“I would urge people to talk to these officers in an effort to help us further our investigation.”

Xhem Krasniqi

Addressing the Albanian community, Superintendent Simon Nelson said: “We respect that the Albanian community is proud and close and look to each other for support in difficult times.

“Our neighbourhood officers are out in the community and there for you to trust and discuss anything you might know so that the offenders face justice.

“I would like to thank the community for their patience and support so far.”

Detective Chief Inspector Riley added: “From the activity we have done so far we suspect that that Edmund and Albert may have left the area.

“However, I want to warn the public not to approach either man, to think of their personal safety and contact police immediately.”

He asked anyone who sees the brothers or who knows their whereabouts to call 999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The Conservative MP for Hove Mike Weatherley is holding a public meeting about the future of the King Alfred Leisure Centre this afternoon (Friday 24 May).

Mr Weatherley will chair the meeting which is taking place at Hove Town Hall.

He said: “The public meeting represents an invaluable opportunity for local residents and any other interested parties to come together and share their views on what the future should hold for the King Alfred.

“People will have a chance to hear from various speakers, including representatives from other councils who have redeveloped leisure centres and interested developers.

“I look forward to hearing the views of everyone at the meeting.

“There is no need to book. Please just turn up and feel free to attend both or either one of the panel discussions.”

Doors open at 1pm and the first panel features five people

• Carolyn Dwyer (Lambeth Council – Streatham Hub Leisure Development)
• James Appleton (Adur and Worthing Councils – Splashpoint Leisure Centre)
• John Reed (Reigate and Banstead Borough Council – Horley Leisure Centre)
• Mark Cannon (chairman of Shiverers Swimming Club)
• Councillor Geoffrey Theobald

The second panel includes

• Emma Andrews (PR manager for Simon James)
• Ed Allison-Wright (Centurion Group)
• Adrian Black (Totem Commercial)
• Kevin Doyle (City Partnerships)

Mr Weatherley said that refreshments would be served in an interval between the two panel sessions.

The audience is expected to include Rob Starr, the Hove businessman who wants to build a new leisure and arts facility called the Lyrics on the site.

Brighton and Hove City Council wants any development to include about 400 homes.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 23 May 2013
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Andrew Kay

Sabai Pavilion, 21 May 2013
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Lynn Ruth Miller

Okay, there were clever bits, some rather picturesque moments but then some unexplainable ones too, memberless buggery of a cabin boy, a disco mirrorball at the end… I may be being too harsh but I did think that if they had spent less buying Terry Gilliam’s out-takes they may have had enough money to buy at least one memorable tune. I ached for it to end and I left wondering what they had thought they were bringing to the Coleridge classic. I’m convinced I would have been more entertained by a few episodes of Captain Pugwash.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 23 May 2013
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
Andrew Kay

The Old Courtroom, 23 May 2013
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Jenni Davidson

Dukebox Theatre, 23 May 2013
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Steve Clements

By Bill Randall

What a year to be Mayor! With meetings I flew about 800 missions. All the usual great and diverse stuff that makes our city so extraordinary: Pride, the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, the Open Houses, the Mackerel Fayre, the Marathon, the Albion, Burning the Clocks, the Veteran Car Run, the university graduation days, citizenship ceremonies and countless community events, plus the icing on my year of the Olympics and the Jubilee.

The Jubilee figured large: street parties and church services from Kemp Town to Hangleton. Lighting the beacon on Hove seafront and attending a thanksgiving service in Chichester Cathedral matched the following day in pomp and circumstance by the Golden Handbags Awards in Brighton’s Hilton Hotel.

The city celebrated the Olympics with the unveiling of the new Steve Ovett statue and by granting Steve the Freedom of Brighton and Hove. The great man turned out to be all the things you would hope for in a hero.

Mayor Bill Randall with former Olympic champion Steve Ovett and his old teacher Sylvia Baker – picture by Tony Mould

Welcoming the Olympic torch to the city and seeing it off the next morning were other highlights. And the oldest torchbearer in Brighton and Hove, Sylvia Baker, turned out to be one of Steve Ovett’s teachers at Balfour Junior School. A warm reunion took place in the Mayor’s Parlour.

I joined the Olympic opening and closing celebrations at the big screen on the beach where I was asked if I was a rapper because I had “the bling”. It was a genuine question, late in a convivial evening.

On three other occasions I was asked if I was the real Mayor or somebody in fancy dress.

More sport. I missed six penalties in a row when I opened the hockey pitches at Blatchington Mill School (wrong shoes, you understand).

On the other hand, I did beat Gully and Dick Knight at ping pong but then was roundly defeated by a 14-year old girl who is very good indeed.

And I’d rather forget about my game with the UK number one women’s player.

I rolled the first bowl at eight greens from Portslade to Rottingdean to mark the opening of the bowls season.

I also tried my hand at archery, boccia, short mat bowls, tai chi, basketball and wheelchair football but drew the line at zumba dancing.

I was there when Whitehawk FC were promoted to the Conference League and when the Albion missed out at the end of a very good season, which most of us would have settled for last September.

I started my year with a multi-faith service at the Unitarian Church, attended ceremonies to welcome a new Bishop of Chichester, a new Rabbi at the Reform Synagogue and a new Minister at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

I also went to a Ramadaan dinner, 14 carol and Christmas services and several patronal or saint’s day festivals, including a spectacular high church event at St Bart’s that included Haydn’s Nelson Mass beautifully sung.

However, my lasting image of the many faith communities in our city is of two girls playing football in All Saints Church, Hove, after a special Festival Service.

Mayor Bill Randall with his wife Heather

It is a reminder of how much churches and vicars like Father Phil at All Saints, Father Robert at St Nicholas and Father John at St Andrew’s Moulsecoomb have opened up their churches to the community.

I sang (sort of) with the Brighton Morris Men to raise money for my three charities – Allsorts, the Women’s Centre and the Martlets.

The Morris Men danced in the lobby of Brighton Town Hall for the first and possibly the last time.

Elsewhere, my wife Heather and I had a very funny evening at the Max Miller Society Dinner where Roy Hudd was in great form.

The Brighton Toy and Model Museum granted me the rare honour of operating the Coronation Scot and (more small boy time) I was allowed to ring a fire engine bell at the Commercial Vehicle Run on the seafront.

And Heather and I had a ride in a veteran car from Preston Park to Madeira Drive in the pouring rain and gale-force winds.

At Charleston House I heard Asa Briggs and Ian McEwan in a profound conversation that marked the 50th anniversary of Sussex University, in Wild Park I went to the 30th Moulsecoomb Family Fun Day and in the Mayor’s Parlour we celebrated 25 years of the Carers’ Centre.

The Mayor’s Parlour is rarely quiet. School councils from across the city come to see the Mayor and visit the council chamber.

The children are genuinely overwhelmed by the chains, the regalia and history of the city.

They all have a go at holding the mace with the help of Robbie, the Mayor’s minder, who is possibly the best-known man in Brighton and Hove.

Interestingly, all this tradition has the same effect on visiting adults.

A group of solicitors from a local firm responded in exactly the same way as the kids, posing with the mace and the robes before going into the grand Victorian council chamber, which reeks of more than 150 years of democracy and overwhelms most people, including the solicitors, on their first visit.

In the past year the parlour has also welcomed a host of local community groups, members of the business and arts communities and the universities, national organisations like the Red Cross, and visitors from France, Finland, Italy, China and South Korea, Iceland, China, Sweden, Iraq, Turkey and Uganda.

Often on parade, Heather and I walked at the front of the Children’s Parade in the rain and at the front of the Pride Parade in the sun.

We went to five remembrance services in Brighton and Hove on 11 November and 13 in Dieppe to mark the 70th anniversary of the landings in August 1942.

Many of the Canadian soldiers who died on the beaches at Dieppe were billeted in Brighton and Hove before the raid and the connection has been maintained ever since.

Mayor Bill Randall at the Gold Star Awards for looked after children

Culture plays a big part in every Mayor’s year. In mine it started with Michael Tippett’s King Priam in the 2012 Festival and finished with the remarkable Sam Lee, Thomas McCarthy and Friends singing traditional songs from the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities in a sold-out All Saints Church this year.

Of the other cultural events, the Hangover Square film set in last year’s festival deserves a special mention because it embodies the spirit of partnership that is such a hallmark of our city. Commissioned by House 2012, it was a collaboration between Cinecity, the Festival, Brighton University and 400 students from City College who built the sets.

Another collaboration that marks my year was that between my three charities.

The Martlets is a big and successful organisation that has to raise £9,000 a day to keep its doors open.

Generous to a fault, it shared its expertise and capacity with the much smaller Brighton Women’s Centre and Allsorts.

All three do a fantastic job for the communities they serve and like so many organisations in our city they rely on volunteers to support them.

It is the volunteers and other remarkable people I will remember most from my year.

The best people of our city, they’re not necessarily the wealthiest or the most celebrated, but those who work for their neighbours and their communities, their bowls clubs, football clubs, choirs and other groups.

Among their number are the nurse I met running a clinic for homeless people in the back of a St John ambulance on the seafront on bitter February night, having already done a day’s work in the renal unit at the Royal Sussex; Colin Bradford and Jill Mitchell who have organised the Moulsecoomb Family Fun Day for the past 30 years; and the 11-year-old boy who comes from home school and takes over as his seriously ill mother’s carer until he goes back to school the following morning. He is one of 23,000 unpaid carers in our city.

They and all the other carers and volunteers deserve our praise and support, as do the private and public sector workers, many of them in low-paid jobs, who contribute to the city’s welfare.

The great privilege of my year has been meeting these people from all communities.

I thought I knew the city pretty well. After a year as Mayor I know it a lot better. More importantly, I know more of the people who actually make it work.

Detectives have named the man they believe shot and killed Albanian scaffolder Xhem Krasniqi in Hove on Saturday night (18 May).

Sussex Police said that the suspect was Edmund Nela, 30, who lives in the Brighton area.

Detectives also wish to speak to his brother Albert, 34, who also lives locally.

Mr Krasniqi died from a single gunshot wound after he, his brother and nephew were fired at by a man they knew in Church Road, Hove, near the junction with Selborne Road.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Riley, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “We believe the men all knew each other and we are open-minded as to the motive.

“The initial indication is that there’s a personal dispute between some members of two families and that this has escalated dramatically, leading to Xhem’s tragic death.

Edmund Nela and his brother Albert

“Prior to this incident police were not aware of any history between the individuals.

“We are also seeking Edmund’s brother Albert, 34, who also lives in the Brighton area. Neither of them have been seen since Saturday night.

“Both men have dual nationality – Albanian and British – and have lived in Brighton, Hove and Shoreham for some years although their home addresses are uncertain. We don’t know their occupations.

“I want to thank the public for the support and patience in this ongoing investigation. Over recent days we have made every effort to trace Edmund and Albert

“We have executed search warrants at locations around Brighton and Hove in an effort to find them.

“Neighbourhood policing officers are supporting this investigation carrying out house-to-house inquiries and visiting cafés frequented by the Albanian community, who have been very helpful.

“Over the coming days they will be visiting the area showing people pictures of Edmund and Albert in an effort to gain information about them and where they may be.

“I would urge people to talk to these officers if they have concerns.

“From the activity we have done so far we suspect that they may have left the area.

“This incident led to a man being shot dead. I want to warn the public not to approach either man, to think of their personal safety and contact police immediately, dialling 999, if they see them or know where they are.”

Anyone who sees the two men or who knows their whereabouts is asked to call Sussex Police on 999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A minute’s silence was held at the annual meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council as a mark of respect for Lee Rigby, who was murdered in Woolwich yesterday (Wednesday 22 May).

Drummer Rigby, a 25-year-old fusilier and father of a young son, was killed in a savage attack near Woolwich Barracks in London.

The outgoing Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Bill Randall, said at the start of the meeting: “I’d like to ask you all to stand for a minute’s silence for the man who was killed in the street in Woolwich yesterday and all those who died in conflict during the past year.”

Councillor Randall, the first Green mayor of the city, is due to become deputy mayor for the coming year.

The new mayor is Councillor Denise Cobb, a Conservative, who will put party politics aside for the coming year as the city’s first citizen and civic figurehead.

Councillor Randall thanked all those who keep the mayoral show on the road and paid particular praise to the many volunteers who help make the city such a wonderful place to live.

He was praised by former Conservative council leader Councillor Mary Mears as she proposed Councillor Cobb as his replacement.

Councillor Cobb named five mayoral charities for the coming year: Brighton and Hove Age UK, the Argus Appeal, Off The Fence, the Martlets and Rockinghorse.