A pensioner who was stabbed to death on his mobility scooter has been named as 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran who had told neighbours he was Irish.
Police were called to reports of a stabbing near the A40 in west London shortly after 4pm on Tuesday (August 16).
According to witnesses, he was surrounded by a gang of youths on Cayton Road, Greenford shortly before he was killed.
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The motive behind the attack is unclear at this time. No arrests are yet to be made.
Heartbroken residents said Thomas was a musician and said he has lived in the area since the 70s, reports Evening Standard.
They described him as a "nice old man" and said he was known as "Uncle Tom."
Eyewitness Frasley Coutinho said: “I saw a couple of people gathering around him and then he drove past and stopped further up, and then there was a group of young boys around him.”
Local shop owner Hitesh Patel told the Standard: “He always had a Ukraine flag on the front of his basket. It said ‘Help for Ukraine’. He was a very good, kind man.
“I saw him just before he was killed heading up to the A40 on his scooter I was filling up with petrol but I wish I had said something. His wife was also always with him in her mobility scooter."
He added: "He told me he was Irish and had three sons. It’s so sad. I can’t believe anyone would hurt him in broad daylight like that. We will miss him and his playing around here.”
Forensic experts were spotted loading bags into police vehicles as officers were positioned at the scene of the tragedy.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, is seeking anyone with footage to come forward.
He said: “I’m asking for anyone with dash cam or cycle helmet footage to contact us if they were using the Western Avenue A40 Eastbound in the proximity of Cayton Road and Welland Gardens between 13.15pm and 4.15pm.
"The elderly victim, who was riding a mobility scooter, was in the area at the time. If you saw the victim, or captured anyone acting suspiciously in the area, it is imperative that you make contact.”
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