This is the “gentle, kind and considerate” student who was stabbed to death close to his home in Forest Gate.
Queen Mary University student Sami Sidhom, 18, was believed to be travelling back from West Ham’s match against Stoke on Monday night when he was attacked in Chestnut Avenue at around 10.50pm.
He was pronounced dead at the scene less than an hour later.
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice retweeted an appeal for a minute’s applause to be held at the club’s next home match in honour of the fan, said to be a season ticket holder, adding: “No one deserves to go to a football match and not return home.”
Flowers have been left at the scene of the teenager’s death, including by neighbour Tariq Bhugeloo, who said: “He was a smiley, skinny, humble guy. Never involved in any trouble.
“Sami was always outside polishing his car - a new black Audi A4. His grandfather passed away recently, so with the inheritance he bought this car. I saw him on Saturday and joked with him that he’d missed a spot. He was a completely innocent guy.
Sami used to be a pupil at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form, and his former headteacher, Mouhssin Ismail, said: “Sami was a gentle, kind and considerate young man who had a very bright future ahead of him.
“He was intelligent, dedicated to his studies and a role model in every sense of the word. He has been deprived of a life which would have been filled with great success and happiness.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family and close friends who must be devastated by their loss.”
Det Insp John Marriott, who is leading the murder investigation, said that his team “retain an open mind as to the motive”.
He added: “We are keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the area last night and may have seen or heard anything.
“It doesn’t matter how big or small you think your information may be; it could be the piece of the puzzle that helps bring the person that killed a young man last night to justice.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3715 or via Twitter @MetCC.
No arrests have been made.
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