Dagenham murder probe: First picture of man stabbed to death in gang attack outside supermarket

Police have released the first picture of a man who was allegedly stabbed to death by a gang armed with knives and baseball bats in east London.

Raja Rashid Ali, 33, was killed after a group of up to a dozen men attacked the driver and passengers of a parked car in Dagenham on Sunday evening (25 September).

CCTV footage of the assault showed a parked blue Renault Megane in Stansgate Road being rammed by a 4x4 before another car pulls up alongside.

Six men jump out the 4x4 before appearing to attack the parked car and occupants with an array of weapons. The driver and passengers are seen trying to scramble free.

The suspects fled the scene in their vehicles a short time later, police said.

Ali, from Elm Park, was said by police to have been inside the Renault Megane at the time of the attack with two other men.

Officers and paramedics arrived on the scene and found him suffering stab wounds. He died a short while later.

Four men, three aged 21 and one in his early twenties, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector David Whellams, who is leading the investigation for the Met Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command, has appealed for members of the public to come forward with any information.

He said: "This was a very violent incident which was witnessed by a number of people who have already spoken to the police, and I would thank them for that. However, I appeal to anyone else who has information about this incident or the people responsible to contact the police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible.

"At this very early stage we are working to establish the motive, but we know that Raja was in a vehicle with two other men which stopped in Stansgate Road outside Costcutter, when they were involved in an altercation with a number of others who were travelling in two other vehicles. The suspects left the scene in these two vehicles.

"The incident took place outside a busy supermarket and I am confident there are more witnesses who have information. I urge them to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3775 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.