Charity worker ‘murdered for his iPhone’ by moped riders in west London

A murder investigation has been launched after a charity worker was stabbed to death by muggers who are believed to have targeted him for his iPhone 7.

Abdul Samad, 28, was knifed in the heart in the street near his home in Little Venice, west London, by assailants on mopeds.

The victim’s family said he managed to reach the doorstep of his home before collapsing.

His parents, Layla Begum and Fazal Miah, called for help but Mr Samad died in hospital an hour later.

Two males, aged 17 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of murder and are being held in custody.

The attack took place at 11.45pm on Monday, several hours after a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death outside Parsons Green tube station by an attacker riding a moped.

Mr Samad, a economics graduate, is understood to have been attacked after leaving a friend’s house where he was playing computer games.

He worked for the Dragon Hall Trust, which helps young people improve their computer skills and participate in social, educational and recreational activities.

The victim’s brother, Abdul Ahad, paid tribute to Mr Samad, saying he had “never done anything wrong” and had “never been in trouble with the police”.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said: “He was geeky and loved his computers and that’s why he was helping the young people. I could understand if it was some kind of postcode war but he’s not that type of person, his friends are all geeks.

“He loved helping children. That’s the sort of person he was. This is a young life gone and such a lovely life. He was full of energy and loved the kids he worked with.

“You’re not going to find a nicer person. It was over a phone, it’s just so senseless.”