AN ELDERLY man who was stabbed to death as he rode his mobility scooter has been named as Thomas O’Halloran – as cops release footage of a “dangerous” knifeman.
The victim, 87, was attacked in a “shocking act” of “unprovoked violence” in Greenford, West London just after 4pm yesterday.
It comes after Thomas O’Halloran was knifed to death yesterday in London[/caption]
He had been riding his mobility scooter when he was surrounded by a gang and knifed, witnesses say[/caption]
Medics dashed to the scene, but the victim couldn’t be saved[/caption]
Footage shows a man with gloves on and a knife in his hand running away[/caption]
It’s believed he was surrounded by a gang of youths in Western Avenue and fatally stabbed before managing to travel 75 yards to Runneymede Gardens on his scooter.
He flagged down a member of the public for help, but couldn’t be saved. No arrests have been made.
However, this lunchtime, police have released footage of a man seen running from the scene with a knife in his hand. They have urged anyone who recognises him to get in touch immediately.
The man was wearing grey shorts, a dark-coloured t-shirt, a white baseball cap and white patterned builder-style gloves.
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Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are keen to identify the man in the CCTV images as a matter of urgency.
“He is clearly a dangerous individual and people are advised not to approach him, but to call us immediately on 999 if they know him or have any information regarding his whereabouts.
“My team and I have been working around the clock to bring Mr O’Halloran’s killer to justice, but we need your help.
“If you have any information at all that will assist us with our investigation – no matter how small – please contact us or alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”
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Hero neighbours rushed to try and save Thomas’s life before paramedics arrived. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene after the horrifying ambush.
Thomas was well-known in the area and often busked with his accordion outside a nearby Tesco and the train station. He had lived in Greenford since the 70s.
Locals say he played to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. Some of those living in the area had given him the nickname “Mr Bond”, while others affectionately knew him as “Uncle Tom”.
Neighbour Anushka Burnett, 37, said: “He’s absolutely lovely, he is one of the best neighbours.
“He is very helpful. If I’m outside trying to clean up or something or if I need anything, tools, he will pop them over.
“He’s so helpful, lovely, always has conversations with everyone. As soon as he sees you out, walk over, and he’ll just start talking to you.
“At his age he’d always like to have a joke as well, always laughing.”
Thomas is believed to have been heading to the pub when the attack happened, one friend said.
His daughter today told The Sun she was too distraught to talk.
Frasley Coutinho, who lives close to the scene of the attack, said he saw a group of “young boys” gather around the elderly man.
“It happened in broad daylight in summertime on a busy road,” he added.
”When I heard about it I just checked the [CCTV] footage. I think everything happened just before in an alleyway.
HORROR IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
”As soon as [the victim] came out [of the alleyway], he was in a lot of distress. A passer-by saw he was in distress and alerted someone else.
”It was clear something was wrong with him, but I couldn’t see any blood. ‘He was in a panic and knew something was wrong.”
Tony Paraskeba, 52, told the Evening Standard: “It’s so sad. My son loved him.
“He would ask him to blow his horn on the scooter whenever he saw him and he would. He is so upset.
“Why would anyone hurt an old man?”
Thomas’s death marks the capital’s sixth homicide in just four days.
It’s so sad. My son loved him. Why would anyone hurt an old man?
Tony Paraskeba
Police want to speak to anyone with dash cam or cycle helmet footage who was using the Western Avenue A40 Eastbound near Cayton Road and Welland Gardens between 1.15pm and 4.15pm.
Speaking at the crime scene today, Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson said: “I understand that our community will quite rightly be shocked and appalled by this incident, as I am too.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “If you saw the victim, or captured anyone acting suspiciously in the area, it is imperative that you make contact.”
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, lead for policing in Ealing, said: “This is an awful incident that will understandably cause considerable alarm.
“We are supporting our colleagues in specialist crime as they work to understand what has happened and identify who is responsible for this horrific crime.
“The support of the public is crucial. Police and the community must work together to identify violent offenders and remove them from our streets.”
Londoners have been left stunned by a spate of serious crime in the past few days.
‘A SHOCKING ACT’
In the early hours of Saturday, Kacey Boothe, 25, was shot outside a child’s first birthday party in Walthamstow.
Stephen Goodman, 60, was fatally injured during a fight in Dagenham, East London, on Sunday. A 23-year-old local man has been charged with murder.
Sonny Booty, 36, found dead at an address in Lewisham, South East London, on Sunday. A 53-year-old man has been charged with murder.
A man was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Soho, central London, on Monday.
School dinner lady Aziza Bennis, 58, was stabbed to death at her home in Acton, West London, on Tuesday. A 21-year-old woman has been charged with murder.
There have also been a series of non-fatal attacks. On Monday, three people were shot in Brent. Cops have launched a manhunt for the attacker after a 17-year-old boy and two men were gunned down.
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And a woman in her 30s was raped in a horror attack by a stranger on a North London street in the early hours of the morning.
- Anyone who has information that could help police should call 101 with the reference CAD 4691/16 Aug
Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson spoke to the media at the scene today[/caption]
The tragedy has stunned the local community[/caption]
Neighbours today paid tribute to a ‘lovely’ man who would play his accordion to raise money for Ukrainian refugees[/caption]
Mr O’Halloran’s scooter was taken away last night[/caption]
Cops have urged anyone with information to come forward[/caption]
