In another day of murder in London, a’very lovely’ elderly man who collected money for victims of the Ukraine war was viciously stabbed to death while using a mobility scooter in broad daylight.
In what is believed to be the 59th murder in the capital so far this year, Thomas O’Halloran, 87, who was well-known among neighbours as “a frequent guitarist at South Greenford railway station,” was assaulted yesterday afternoon.
Before he was tragically hurt, the busker is said to have been encircled by a group of young people.
Just after 4 o’clock in the afternoon, Metropolitan Police officers were summoned to Cayton Road, which is close to the busy A40 Western Avenue, in response to reports of a man who had been stabbed and had been pronounced dead there.
Before the paramedics came, brave neighbours rushed to the scene and made fruitless attempts to save Mr. O’Halloran’s life.
Police are looking for witnesses since they think his assailant left the scene shortly after the incident and no one has been arrested.
A crime scene was present, according to detectives, and “urgent enquiries to ascertain what transpired are continuing.”
Robbery hasn’t been ruled out as a motivation, according to Scotland Yard, but they’re keeping an open mind.
Mr. O’Halloran, an Irish father of three, would often play the accordion on his mobility scooter outside Tesco and the railway station to collect money for Ukraine, according to Hitesh Patel, a 62-year-old store owner at Greenford station, who spoke to the Evening Standard.
He constantly displayed a Ukrainian flag on the front of his basket, according to Mr. Patel. As he performed, it stated Help for Ukraine. He was a kind, compassionate guy.
I find it hard to think someone would harm him like way in the open. He and his antics here will be missed.
When the incident happened, he was reportedly on his way to the bar, a pal told the Sun.
It is the sixth murder inquiry Scotland Yard has opened in just four days, and it has drawn harsh criticism for the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who expressed his “devastation” at learning of yesterday’s assault.
On Poland Street near Oxford Street in the West End, a man was fatally stabbed on Monday morning. At a residence close to Acton Town tube station, a 58-year-old lady was fatally stabbed that afternoon.
On Sunday, a 36-year-old man was discovered dead in Lewisham, a 60-year-old man was killed in a fight in Dagenham, and on Saturday, a 25-year-old guy was shot and killed in Walthamstow.
According to Frasley Coutinho, who managed to record portions of the event on CCTV, the stabbing in Greenwood happened just in front of his home.
When he drove by and parked further along, a number of young lads had gathered around him, the man said, adding: “I observed a few of individuals gathering around him.
“I had a rose plant hiding it so I could see no more,” the speaker said.
A senior property manager in the area named Simran Advani, 25, said she often saw an older guy on his mobility scooter and that he “always used to grin.”
He was a good elderly guy, she remarked. He often round the block and always travels on the road rather than the sidewalk. There is seldom any noise in this neighbourhood, and this street is especially peaceful. It’s unsettling that an elderly guy may perish here.
“The majority of individuals on this route are old, and you never hear or see any young people.” Today was just like every other day. He may have been going from or to a parade of stores that are just around the corner, down an alleyway beneath the rails.
Parish Advani, whose home is close to the scene of the tragedy, expressed his astonishment at the death to the Evening Standard. I’m on vacation, but my sister called me about it, he continued.
“The cops have been knocking on doors and asking whether anybody has CCTV.” Being so close to anything like this is terrifying and terribly surprising.
six murders are being investigated