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Deliveroo driver murder suspect may have fled to Austria after road rage attack, police say

Detectives fear suspected killer may have left country on morning after killing

Tuesday 14 January 2020 16:38 GMT

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Forensic tent erected in North London after Friday night stabbing

The suspected killer of a Deliveroo driver who was stabbed to death in a road rage attack may have fled to Austria, police have warned.

Takieddine Boudhane, a 30-year-old Deliveroo and Uber Eats rider, was killed in a confrontation with a van driver in Finsbury Park, London, on 3 January.

The driver of a white VW Caddy van is believed to have stabbed Boudhane to death and fled the scene.

It is now feared that the fugitive, who has not yet been named, may have fled to Austria on the morning after the killing.

“There is a person of interest who we believe flew to Austria,” Chief Superintendent Raj Kohli, police commander for the borough of Islington, told the Islington Tribune.

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

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1/18The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Purple ribbons are seen tied to a tree and fence at a park near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death in an attack with no obvious motive, in the Harold Hill area of London. Chesney was stabbed in an unprovoked attack while out with friends on March 1, 2019. Four males aged 16, 17, 19 and 20 have been charged with her murder which all four deny. In honour of her favourite colour, purple ribbons were tied to a railing, alongside a message also written in purple: "Choose life, drop the knife! RIP Jodie.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and bottles of alcohol are seen outside the house where 20-year-old Tyrelle Burke was stabbed to death, in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester. Burke was stabbed to death on April 5, outside his home by a friend following a night out. 18-year-old Denver Walton was charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A woman walks past floral tributes near to where 29-year-old Joshua White was stabbed to death, in the Hackney area of London. Joshua White died after he was stabbed through the heart in broad daylight on April 26. Two teenagers have been charged with his murder, and police are attempting to extradite an 18-year-old from Ireland in relation to the attack.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and photographs are left at the spot where 17-year-old Yousef Makki was stabbed to death, in Hale Barns. Makki was stabbed to death on March 2 during a row with another boy. A 17-year-old boy was cleared of his murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court on July 12. Makki's family have protested against the verdict.

Photography by Reuters

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and packets of crisps and a chocolate bar are tied to a fence where 21-year-old James Halewood was stabbed to death, in the Kirkby area of Liverpool. Halewood was stabbed to death in broad daylight outside a parade of shops at lunchtime on July 7. Two men aged 26 and 23 have been arrested in connection with his death.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Graffiti on a fence of an industrial unit near to where 18-year-old Hazrat Umar was killed, in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. Umar was killed after being stabbed 15 times in an unprovoked attack on February 25, on his way to the gym. Adam Muhammad, 17, a student at the same college, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes are seen tied to a pedestrian crossing near to where 40-year-old Gavin Garraway was stabbed to death, in the Clapham area of London. Garroway was stabbed to death through the window of his car on March 29. Zion Chiata, 18, has been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and teddy bears are seen outside a house where 26-year-old Kelly-Mary Fauvrelle and her unborn baby where stabbed to death, in the Croydon area of London. Fauvrelle was stabbed to death in the bedroom of her home in the early hours of June 29. Her baby boy, Riley, was delivered but also died four days later. Ex-partner Aaron McKenzie has been charged with her murder and causing the death of the baby.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Flowers are tied to the entrance of Sara Park near to where 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was killed in the Small Heath area of Birmingham. Abdullah died after suffering stab wounds to the chest and back in the evening of February 20. Three males aged 17, 19 and 20 have been charged in connection with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

The remains of candles and tributes are seen near to where 19-year-old Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck was stabbed to death, in the Wood Green area of London. Gabbidon-Lynck died after he was stabbed by a gang on bicycles on February 22, in an incident which left another man suffering from knife and gunshot wounds. Three men aged 18, 19 and 20 have been charged with murder, attempted murder and robbery.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A woman pushes a pram past a row of houses where 33-year-old Charlotte Huggins was stabbed to death, in south London. Huggins was the first stabbing victim of 2019, stabbed in the back at her home in the early hours of New Year's Day. Her ex-boyfriend Michael Rolle was found guilty of her murder and jailed for life. He stabbed Huggins after she celebrated New Year's eve with a male friend.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes are left at the spot where 18-year-old Cheyon Evans was stabbed to death, in the Wandsworth area of London. Evans died from a stab wound to the chest after being attacked by a group of youths in broad daylight on June 14. Three males aged 18, 18 and 17 have been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Lanfrey Place is where 17-year-old Ayub Hassan died after suffering multiple stab wounds in the street, in the West Kensington area of London. Hassan was killed after his attack on March 7. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes are left near to where 21-year-old Lewis Bagshaw was stabbed to death, in the Southey area of Sheffield. Bagshaw collapsed and died on July 21, when seeking help from residents of Piper Crescent after suffering stab wounds. Police investigations into his death are ongoing.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Flowers and toys are left at the scene where 19-year-old Lejean Richards was stabbed to death, in the Battersea area of London. Richards was attacked and fatally stabbed on February 5. Roy Reyes-Nieves, 23, and Roger Reyes-Nieves, 18, have been charges with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A man walks past floral tributes left near to where 24-year-old Joe O'Brien died after being stabbed in a fight outside a pub, in Manchester. O'Brien died following a fight outside the Royal Oak pub on April 21. Momodou Jallow, 21, has been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Flowers are seen near to where 29-year-old Nathaniel Armstrong was stabbed to death, in the Fulham area of London. Armstrong was stabbed to death during an altercation on March 16. Murder charges against a 29-year-old male were dropped after prosecutors said there was no realistic prospect of conviction.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A police officer stands outside a row of terraced houses where 33-year-old nurse Saima Riaz was stabbed to death, in Rochdale. Riaz, a mother of three, was found on April 23. 36-year-old Mohammed Abid Choudhry has been charged with her murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

However, Mr Kohli added that he is confident the investigation will “come to a conclusion”.

The fatal stabbing earlier this month sparked the Metropolitan Police’s first murder investigation of 2020 and calls for more protection for delivery drivers.

“There are a lot of people working as delivery drivers, they must have better conditions of employment and employers must take more responsibility for their safety too,” Jeremy Corbyn, Labour leader and MP for Islington North, said soon after the attack.

“Delivery drivers do a great job in London all of the time. Yet they are vulnerable.”

Alex Marshall, the chair of the couriers and logistics branch of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), said some members of the public treat delivery drivers with “utter contempt” and employers need to do more to protect them.

Boudhane was an Algerian national who had been living in the UK for about three years.

He was described as a “good guy” by a fellow delivery driver, who said he no longer feels safe working in London after the attack.

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing on Lennox Road at about 6.50pm on 3 January and Boudhane was pronounced dead at 7.42pm that evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who is leading the murder investigation, told the Tribune that his team is making good progress and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

“It is very likely that members of the public would have seen a fight in the road which they may also have captured on their phones,” he said.

“At this time I am unable to release any further information concerning the identity of the driver as this may hinder the ongoing police investigation.”

The incident is thought to be spontaneous and not connected to anything other than a traffic altercation, Mr John added.

Additional reporting by PA