Four held over carjack killing

FOUR men were arrested today over the carjack killing of a garage owner.

Harjinder Singh Bhurji, 32, had been sitting in his Mercedes sports car chatting to a female pal when they were attacked in the early hours of this morning.

The woman was dragged out and threatened with a knife to force Harjinder to hand over his keys.

When he refused he was stabbed in the chest. He finally gave up his keys and his attackers drove off in his black CLK — leaving him to die.

Residents in Ilford, East London, told how the woman, who is in her 20s, banged on doors to raise the alarm before collapsing sobbing. She was shocked but unhurt.

The car was found abandoned just an hour later three miles away in Chingford.

Three suspects — aged 17 to 20 — are being held at an East London police station after being arrested on suspicion of murder, Scotland Yard said.

The fourth man is being held for handling stolen goods.

The victim's best friend, Gurmit Birdi, 32, said Mr Harjinder's family was "distraught".

Gurmit said Harjinder had been set to be his best man in November. He added: "He was a very nice person, he never did anything wrong.

"He lived his life and enjoyed his life, he was a happy person. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"For his family and friends, this is just unbelievable. I can't even think straight, God knows what his family are going through."


Harjinder's uncle, Narinder Shargill, who has flown from San Francisco to be with his relatives, expressed his shock over the "senseless" crime.

He told ITV1's Daybreak: "My sister got married two weeks ago so the entire family was here from all over the world. It was a time of joy and celebration.

"Two weeks later to be in a state of mourning is just incredible. We just can't imagine something like this (would) happen. This crime is so senseless."

Harjinder lived with his parents Manvinder, 58, and Bhupinder, 60. His sister Rasdinder Johal said: "The family are devastated."