Wealdstone stabbing victim killed 'as his daughter, 8, bought sweets in shop yards away'

The brother of a father-of-two stabbed to death on a busy high street as his eight year old daughter bought sweets in a shop just yards away has revealed they came to London “for a better life”.

Mohammed Al-zufairi, 34, was attacked outside a branch of the Halifax bank opposite the recently closed police station on Wealdstone High Street shortly after rush hour on Monday.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and underwent emergency surgery but died in the early hours of the morning.

A 26-year-old man was arrested by police yesterday on suspicion of murder and was being questioned at a north London police station today.

Mr Al-zufairi’s brother, Ali, today told how he had rushed to the stabbing scene and saw paramedics trying to save his life.

He said his brother, the eldest of six brothers, had children aged eight and one and was a doting family man.

Ali, 26, told the Standard: “I was nearby and received a call saying my brother had been stabbed.

"I didn’t think it was serious but when I got there they were pumping his chest... It was a terrible scene I will never forget.”

He added: “My brother had just popped out to the shop to get a few things. He was with his daughter who went to buy sweets in the pound shop. He was in the street when they attacked.”

He said that his brother, who had worked as a Heathrow cargo handler was a “humble family man” who had not been in trouble and was apparently the victim of a random attack.

He said: “We just don’t know what happened. Apparently there were two of them who attacked him. We gave no idea why, there was no build up to this. These people do not value human life.

“We came to London from Kuwait in 1993 for a better life and now my brother is dead. They have to get these people and knives off the streets.”

He said his brother had been a talented athlete while at Harrow College but had recently not been able to work due to ill health.

He added: “He would not pick a fight, my brother was a decent person and family man with a baby and a young daughter. His wife is in a terrible state.. He went out for a few things from the shop and never came back.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lawson, who is leading the investigation, said: “We know that the area at the time of the stabbing, just before 6.50pm, would have been very busy with people coming from nearby Harrow and Wealdstone Station.

"Other people would have been shopping at the time.

“We are very keen to hear from anyone who was in and around the Wealdstone High Street area that may have seen or heard anything suspicious, especially from anyone who saw people running towards the station.”

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, are urged to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0200, or contact police by calling 101 or by tweeting @MetCC

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org