Two held over station stabbing

Two men have been arrested after a man was knifed to death on a station platform as he waited to catch the last train home.

John Coffey, 52, is thought to have lain injured for more than an hour before he was discovered by two 16-year-old girls lying in a pool of blood in the foyer of Wood Street station in Walthamstow.

Scotland Yard said they had arrested two men aged 28 and 33 in Walthamstow in connection with Mr Coffey's murder.

Mr Coffey, nicknamed "eight days a week" because he liked to work hard, was originally from Ireland but had lived in Hackney for a number of years.

Today staff and customers at the pub where he drank told of their shock and anger over the killing. They told how in the hours before the attack on Sunday, Mr Coffey had enjoyed a drink with his best friend Vincent before leaving to walk Vincent's daughter, Sharon, home.

Landlord Vitor Varanda of The Plough Inn which is only yards from the murder scene said: "He was well known to people here. He was a character.

"We were having a laugh with him that night. He was one of those guys who would not harm a fly. The very last thing he did was have a double whisky. He then left here at around 10.30pm."

The station's CCTV system was not working. Anyone with information is asked to call 020 8345 1585 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.