Petrol station murder 'racially motivated'

Petrol station murder 'racially motivated'

Police have said that the murder of an Asian man stabbed to death at a petrol station may have been racially motivated.

Qamar Mirza, 48, was murdered at the Jet station on Cricklewood Broadway, north London, at 0140 GMT on Wednesday.

Police were called and found Mr Mirza, who is described as a local man of Pakistani origin, bleeding on the forecourt.

He was taken to Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, north London, but died shortly after he arrived.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "At this stage, it would appear that Mr Mirza had purchased petrol and cigarettes and was cleaning his windscreen when the suspect made a purchase and crossed the forecourt towards him.

"Words were exchanged and the victim was stabbed at least once with a large kitchen type knife."

A motive for this attack is not known and one consideration must be at this stage that this could be a racially motivated murder

Scotland Yard spokesman

The suspect then made off north along the Cricklewood Broadway in the direction of Hendon.

Police are examining CCTV footage and are interviewing the petrol station staff.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "A motive for this attack is not known and one consideration must be at this stage that this could be a racially motivated murder."

The suspect is described as a white, heavily built man, aged approximately 45-50.

He was wearing a white jacket and a white buttoned shirt with black trousers and dark shoes.