Fifth arrest in carjack murder hunt

A man was arrested today over the carjack killing of a garage owner, police said.

The 18-year-old is being held at an east London police station on suspicion of murder, Scotland Yard said.

Harjinder Singh Bhurji, 32, died in a pool of blood after being stabbed when he refused to hand over the keys to his black Mercedes CLK coupe in Ilford, east London.

His death was condemned by his family as a "senseless crime".

The teenager is the fifth person to be arrested in connection with the incident - three men, aged 18, 19 and 20, and a 17-year-old boy have been bailed pending further inquiries, police said.

Bachelor Mr Bhurji was sitting in his sports car talking to a female friend when a robber opened the passenger door and dragged the woman from the car.

Mr Bhurji, who lived in Ilford, initially tried to hide the car keys under his seat but the robber threatened to harm his friend if he did not hand them over.

He was stabbed as he tried to retrieve the keys before the thief drove off with the car.

Mr Bhurji was pronounced dead at the scene in Stoneleigh Road, Ilford, after police were called at 1.10am on Tuesday.

The car, registration number R4 JXW, was found abandoned in Forest Glade, Chingford, east London, at 2.45am.

Mr Bhurji's friend was found at the scene uninjured but suffering from shock. PA