Pinner stabbing: Shop worker killed during robbery Published duration 24 March 2019 Related Topics London violence

image copyright PA image caption The shop worker was stabbed at a newsagents in Pinner

A shop worker has been stabbed to death in a robbery at a newsagents in north-west London.

It is believed the 54-year-old was attacked while opening Marsh Food and Wine in Pinner at about 06:00 GMT, the Met Police said.

Detectives said the shop's till had been stolen and may have been dumped somewhere by the robber.

The murder has been described as a "tragedy" by locals. No arrests have been made.

image copyright PA image caption A large part of Marsh Road is cordoned off and a forensics tent has been set up outside Costa Coffee

Police said they wanted to hear from anyone who saw a black Vauxhall Astra being driven away from Marsh Road at speed.

Det Ch Insp Simon Stancombe said: "This was a violent robbery that has escalated, resulting in the murder of a man."

He urged anyone who found the till, or saw the car parked in Cecil Park before the attack, to come forward.

image copyright David Mirzoeff/PA image caption There have been 29 deaths classed as "homicides" in London this year

A large part of Marsh Road is cordoned off and a forensics tent has been set up outside Costa Coffee, next to the newsagents.

Local business owner Peter Brook, who lives nearby, said the newsagents' employees delivered the morning papers to nearby businesses and were "kind, polite and so committed to working in the local community".

image copyright PA image caption Local people described the murder as a "tragedy"

The 55-year-old, who has lived in Pinner for nearly two decades, added: "People sometimes don't appreciate the people who come out at 5am to deliver a service to the local community. When people like that are murdered going about their job it's such a tragedy."

"I know the other traders I've spoken to are thinking 'there but for the grace of God go the rest of us'."

Policing minister and Pinner MP Nick Hurd said he was "deeply saddened" by the news. He tweeted that police had increased their presence in the area and were carrying out house-to-house inquires.

There have been 29 deaths classed as "homicides" in London this year, including 13 in March.

Victims in 2019

Motives and circumstances behind killings have varied - as have the age and gender of the victims.