A childhood friend of a man stabbed to death in Wembley has described him as a ‘famous’ ice-cream seller in the community. Shazad Khan was found with severe injuries on Monks Park at around 6.10pm on Tuesday (August 19) after police received calls about an altercation.
The 41-year-old was treated by multiple paramedics but pronounced dead on the residential street a short time later. Asim Mahmood Butt,39, who lives in nearby Tokyngton Avenue, said he’d known the married father-of-one for more than two decades.
He told the PA news agency: “I got a call from one of my cousins. This guy, we know him – he’s a famous ice cream guy. He got stabbed.
“I came here and his body was still here, and police had cordoned off the area. We don’t know the reason why, but all that we know is that a guy with a grey hoodie stabbed him eight times. That’s what I’ve been told.
“I know his brothers as well – they’re all local. We all used to play cricket and football here in Monks Park. He started (selling) ice cream about a year ago.”
The ice cream van, known locally featuring a large teddy bear, had been parked on the road at the time of the stabbing, according to Mr Butt. A second witness, who did not wish to be named, said it was towed away from the scene in the early hours of Wednesday (August 20).
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder that same morning, while a 31-year-old woman was also arrested at the scene for conspiracy to murder, the Metropolitan Police said. Both individuals remain in custody.
A blue forensics tent and a number of police officers could be seen inside a cordon in Monks Park on Wednesday afternoon. Removal vehicles also took away a white van and blue car.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, the local policing commander for North-West London, said: “Our thoughts remain with Shazad’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. This incident will rightly cause concern across the community, but intelligence at this stage leads us to believe there is no wider threat to the public.
“Detectives are conducting a thorough and fast-paced investigation, and locals can expect to see an uptick in police presence in the area. Anyone with any information – particularly dashcam or doorbell footage from the time of the incident – is urged to speak to us as a matter of urgency.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting 6174/19AUG. Anonymous reports can also be made to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111 or the charity’s website.
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