An 87-year-old man who was stabbed to death while riding a mobility scooter in a “shocking act” of “unprovoked violence” has been named as Thomas O’Halloran, Metropolitan Police said.
The force have given an update on the investigation into a “shocking act of unprovoked violence” that saw Mr O’Halloran stabbed to death in west London on Tuesday (August 16). Metropolitan Police was called at 4.06pm to Cayton Road, Greenford, to reports of a man with stab injuries. He died at the scene.
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson gave an update from the crime scene on Wednesday (August 17) saying: “I understand that our community will quite rightly be shocked and appalled by this incident, as I am too. We are now able to name the man who has tragically lost his life as Mr Thomas O’Halloran who lived in Greenford and was a very well-known and much-loved member of our community.
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“My thoughts very much remain with Mr O’Halloran’s family and friends today. I’d also like to appeal for their privacy to be respected while they come to terms with their loss.”
The 87-year-old was attacked while on his way to busk, according to a friend, who did not want to be named. He told the PA news agency: “He was coming back from Perivale to play his accordion and make some money for his family and he was stabbed to death.”
Mr O’Halloran was said to be known locally for busking outside Greenford Station and was also said to be raising money for war-torn Ukraine. A man who works in a newsagents outside the station said: “He used to play his accordion here.
“He came every day for a long time, at least two years. He usually busked around five o’clock.” Another shopkeeper said: “He was often outside the station playing his accordion.”
Frasley Coutinho, who lives in Greenford, west London, opposite where Mr O’Halloran was killed, said he saw the victim surrounded by a group of young boys. He 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.”
Mr Coutinho said he caught some of the incident on a CCTV camera but it was obscured by a plant. “I had a rose plant blocking it so I couldn’t see any more,” he said.
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