Neighbours have been in shock today after a shooting and stabbing in Bromley-by-Bow when a man died in broad daylight yesterday—just 30 yards from his home.
He died on the doorstep of a neighbour’s house four doors along in the afternoon where children are normally playing.
The neighbours have left floral tributes under the railway arch at the entrance to Eagling Close, off Campbell Road.
“I heard the shot and saw two boys wearing grey hoods running away,” Shamim Miah, 56, told the East London Advertiser.
“I saw the man lying on the front of the house at the end.
“We’re all really shocked by what happened—this is a quiet turning, a nice and peaceful area.
“But it’s getting bad, with people coming down hear shouting in the street. We don’t feel safe any more.”
The families worry about safety of their children who normally play outside their homes on any Saturday afternoon by the Underground railway arches between Bow Road and Bromley-by-Bow. There were no children playing there today.
The man was shot on the doorstep of No 6, where father-of-four Mirza Aklakmir lives with his family, but he was out at the time.
He said: “I came home to find the man lying by my doorstep and two ambulance people were pumping his body. I was worried when I saw him.”
All the neighbours paid tribute to the man who befriended all his neighbours.
Amir Uddin, 59, said: “It’s a sad loss, because he was a lovely man, always helpful.
“We all knew him. He always helped if he saw someone carrying heavy bags climbing the stairs with shopping, whatever he was doing.”
Air ambulance paramedics from the Royal London Hospital at Whitechapel tried for an hour to save the man’s life. But he died at the scene.
Police forensic officers were still examining the crime scene this-afternoon before the cordon was lifted at 5.30pm.
The victim was a family man living 30 yards from the spot where police say he was shot and stabbed. Relatives were at his flat today.
An appeal for witnesses to come forward has begun, especially for a woman detectives believe was in the turning at around 4.30pm when the shot was fired.
Det Chief Insp Gary Holmes said: “This was a violent murder that happened in broad daylight on a Saturday afternoon.
“I’m aware of a woman in pink trousers who was in Eagling Close around the time of the murder.
“Even if she doesn’t think she saw anything significant, it’s vital that she contacts us.”
Police want to hear from anyone with information about what happened between 4.20 and 4.40pm yesterday in Eagling Close to call the incident room on 020 8345 1570, on Twitter @MetCC, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Crimestoppers online.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident, Scotland Yard has confirmed. They are being held in custody at east London police stations.
Detectives say they believe at this stage that the victim was both shot and stabbed. A post-mortem examination is being arranged at Poplar.
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