A man was stabbed to death with a ‘zombie knife’ as bystanders filmed on Snapchat, witnesses have said.
The victim, named locally as Alwi Jamal, 20, was stabbed in the chest by Ilford train station, east London last night (Tues).
Witnesses have said the ‘drug dealer’ was ‘slashed in the face’ outside a betting shop before chased down and murdered.
Paramedics rushed to the scene at around 8.50pm, but the man died at the scene half-an-hour later.
A local teenager said: “A fight happened outside Paddy Power, I was there when it happened.
“Alwi was slashed in the face – then they chased him towards the station.
“They chased after him, two people with knives – zombie knives black with a silver blade.
“They stabbed him in his chest there was two of them – I’ve also seen the Snapchat video.
“It was a fight over money and drugs, the two boys that did it were Asian, like Indian.
“Alwi was from Manor Park. His family were from Somalia.
“You used to see him every day, we would play a bit of football with him, smoke and that.
“He wasn’t the best of people, but he wasn’t bad either – he used to sell a bit of rock.
“All the stabbers are here for money and drugs.”
Another local, 19, said he first learnt of the attack after watching a video on photo sharing app Snapchat.
He said: “He was run up on near the station and stabbed, the video was going round.
“It was in the chest, one time, close to where his arm started.”
A man in his fifties said: “There’s a hell of a lot of gangs here – more than anywhere else – I’ve lived here 20 years.
“I came out of the chicken shop last night, I went into the pub and when I stood outside I could see some boys.
“There was a lot of young people about, it wasn’t the regular boys – I saw some new faces, I don’t know them all.
“There was a crowd hanging out round the station, I’ve never seen them before.
“When I came outside ten minutes later I saw all the flashing lights.
“It has cleaned up a lot round here but one door shuts another one opens it’s hard to keep up with them.”
“I don’t know if they came down on their turf, it’s all ongoing here.”
One anonymous resident said that it is common to see ‘drug men’ fighting with knives outside his chicken shop.
He said: “I was working and police came and forced everyone out of the shop – they put a cordon up.
“There were at least ten police cars parked in the road by the station.
“It’s very dangerous here. I work, then I go straight home.”
Forensic officers were seen working outside of Ilford station, with one removing a white evidence tent.
A cordon is still in place, stretching along the high street and blocking multiple side roads.
Workers gathered at the police tape while an officer explained alternative routes to Ilford train station.
A building contractor came to the cordon to understand why his staff were unable to work.
He said: “We are down here doing the road works around the station.
“It’s stopped everything and we can’t work – nobody can get through the cordon by the station.
“Our guys got here this morning and said we can’t get to the job because police have got it all blocked off.
“There’s three men that can’t get to work as a result of this murder.
“This is not the first time it’s happened here – we’ve been working quite a while and this has happened before.
“Round the corner it’s bad news, there is a lot of drugs, addicts, all types of people.
“There’s a lot of Somalian refugee gangs – and the other type of London gangs, criminals.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “A murder investigation has been launched after a man suffered fatal stab injuries.
“Police were called at 8.48pm on Tuesday, February 26 to a man stabbed in Cranbrook Road, Ilford.
“Officers attended the location along with London Ambulance Service.
“A 20-year-old man was found suffering serious stab injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.19pm.
“His next of kin have been informed. A post-mortem examination and formal identification will be arranged in due course.
“An investigation has been launched. Urgent enquiries are underway to establish the circumstances.
“There has been no arrest at this early stage.
“A crime scene is currently in place at Cranbrook Road and the front entrance to Ilford railway station is closed.
“An entrance at the back of the station has been opened.”
By Daniel Hammond