Man killed on rail platform

A businessman was murdered today moments after getting off the last train at a suburban station.

The victim, dressed in a white shirt and smart grey suit, was stabbed on the platform in a suspected robbery.

Police believe he was a professional or a businessman who was returning after an evening out or a night working late in the office.

The man, who was white and in his fifties, was carrying no identification.

Paramedics battled to save him after he was found by two 16-year-old girls in the foyer of Wood Street station in

Walthamstow. The victim was only able to tell them that his first name was John and that he was a victim of a mugging before he lost consciousness.

Detectives are working on a theory that he was mugged before he was stabbed and his wallet was stolen by his attacker.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said it was too early to know exactly what happened. Although it is believed the victim was on the last train, another possibility is that he was mugged in the street and staggered to the station to seek help.

He reached stairs leading down to the entrance foyer of the station then collapsed, falling down the steps.

Police were urgently trying to establish the man's identity today. Detective Chief Inspector Ron Scott, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We are appealing to anyone who may be missing a loved one to contact us.

"It appears that the victim had been heading home and someone must be anxious for his whereabouts. It is essential we identify him as soon as possible.

"This is a vicious attack on a man who was probably doing no more than going about his business and socialising. We are also appealing to anyone who was in the area around midnight to come forward. Anything they may have seen could be of vital importance to us."

He praised the actions of the two girls who found the victim.

DCI Scott said: "They very promptly contacted the London ambulance service and upon their arrival they contacted the police. He had nothing on his person which identifies him. He appears to be devoid of property.

"We are meticulously examining CCTV footage which has been recovered from the station. That CCTV, its parameters, will be extended during the course of this investigation.

"It is in its embryonic stages and clearly whilst he may have been mugged we are keeping an open mind as to the motive of the attack."

The victim was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital, where he died. Today police cordoned off the road to the station as well as an area surrounding a nearby block of flats.

A team of officers searched the rail track leading in and out of Wood Street. Many local residents-stood watching the events unfold throughout the day, shocked at the murder committed on their doorstep.

Bitor Baranda, 37, manager of The Plough Inn which overlooks the station, said: "We closed the pub at about 11.30pm.

"At about 1am we heard all the commotion outside, police sirens were wailing and an ambulance was parked up."

Mr Baranda said the victim was wearing what appeared to be dark trousers and a pair of black boots. He added: "We could see the man on the stretcher. He had a blanket over him but wasn't wearing his shirt.

"As we watched from the window we could see that at that point he was still alive.

"Since then the entire area has been sealed off by the police."

"It's quite a nice area," he continued. "We used to have quite a lot of trouble many years ago but the place has cleaned itself up and is now a pleasant place to live."

Detectives hope the CCTV footage, from the station and from a minicab firm, may help them identify the killer running away from the scene. The controller-at the minicab firm would not reveal what was on the tape but he said: "This is going straight to the police. It shows a view of the area right outside the station and will hopefully give them some clues."

Mr Scott said: "At this stage we are trying to establish what happened.

"We know the last train came into the station and that this man was found at the bottom of the steps leading from the platform but we cannot say at the moment whether he was on the train or not."

The attack may be the latest in a string of "stranger murders" in London. These include the killing of French student Amélie Delagrange in Twickenham, the street attack on architect Bernard Hegarty in Bethnal Green and the fatal stabbing of BBC librarian Tom Brown as he walked home in Southgate.

Anyone with information is urged to ring the murder incident room on 0208 345 1585 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.