Maylebone stabbing: First picture of Archie Sheppard, 48, knifed to death on London bus

This is the first picture of a man who was stabbed to death on the top deck of a London bus.

Archie Sheppard, 48, was repeatedly knifed in a “violent and sustained attack” on the Route 189 bus in Marylebone in the early hours of Friday.

He was discovered by a passenger when the bus stopped in Gloucester Place at about 12.10am but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scotland Yard appealed for help searching for a white man seen with Mr Sheppard, from Neasden, shortly they boarded the bus in Brent Cross, north London, at 11.13pm on Thursday.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, said: "Our inquiries so far have established that Mr Sheppard and the man we are seeking to trace were seen talking together while waiting at the bus station.

"They both boarded a Route 189 bus and made their way to the upper deck where they sat separately.

"We are exploring the possibility that Mr Sheppard may have known his attacker and it is vital that anyone who saw the two men talking prior to boarding the bus contacts us.

"Approximately 40 minutes into the journey, Mr Sheppard was subjected to a violent and sustained attack."

The attacker then fled the bus as it reached Gloucester Place and the junction with Montagu Place, heading in the direction of Marble Arch, police said.

"Mr Sheppard was discovered when a passenger made their way to the upper deck and an ambulance was called. He was taken off the bus for urgent medical intervention but sadly died at the scene," the detective said.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place on Saturday and Mr Sheppard's next of kin have been informed.

Several witnesses are helping police, although no arrests have been made and police appealed to anyone who was on the bus to contact them.

Anyone who witnessed the incident has been asked to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or via Twitter @MetCC or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the crimestoppers-uk.org website.