Two held over sports shop murder

A 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth were arrested today on suspicion of murdering sports store manager Carlton Maxwell-Clarke.

The pair are being questioned about the attack after Mr Maxwell-Clarke, 36, was stabbed once in the heart with a 12-inch blade during a robbery.

They were arrested in the early hours in east London and are being held at separate police stations following the raid at JJB Sports in Beckton last Friday night.

A reward of £60,000 has been offered to catch the killers of the married father-of-one.

The arrests come only hours after the victim's widow, Alex, made an emotional public appeal for help in catching the men.

She said: "He was such a nice man. Nobody can believe it should happen to the best father in the world and the best husband in the world. It is so hard to explain and I really can't find the words. These men have ruined my life. I thought I would be with Carlton for ever - I just hope they get caught."

The victim tried to stop the robbery but was stabbed during the fight. A 20-year-old woman shop assistant was frog-marched with a knife pressed to her neck in an effort to open the safe. The robbers were armed with guns and knives.

The thieves escaped with £4,000 and thousands of pounds of shopping vouchers.

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