Five Years On: Police Renew Hunt for East London Killer
Detectives have launched a fresh appeal to crack the case of Ahmed Deen-Jah, who was stabbed to death in east London five years ago. The 24-year-old was fatally wounded in a brutal, unprovoked attack inside a Custom House convenience store on 2 April 2017.
£20,000 Reward and New CCTV Footage Released
Despite thousands of hours of detective work, Ahmed’s killer remains at large. Police are now offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and prosecution. They’ve also released new CCTV images showing a suspect they desperately want to identify.
At 3.20pm on that fateful day, Ahmed entered a shop on Freemasons Road, bought a lighter, then briefly left. He returned moments later — followed by a man wearing dark clothes, a balaclava, and gloves. The suspect chased him around the shop before launching the deadly assault, stabbing Ahmed in the heart and slashing his hand.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, including London’s Air Ambulance, but despite their efforts, Ahmed died shortly after the attack.
Suspect Seen Fleeing in Stolen Mercedes
Witnesses saw the attacker jump into a black Mercedes parked outside, along with two other men. The car was reported stolen days earlier and fled before police arrived.
The Tragic Aftermath – Family Devastated
Just after the fourth anniversary of Ahmed’s murder, his younger brother Abubakkar Junior Jah was also stabbed to death in east London in April 2021. Police arrested 10 people in connection with that case, which is still under investigation.
“Ahmed was a beautiful, kind boy. He wanted to do something with his life. Now we have lost him. He didn’t deserve for this to happen,” said Ahmed’s father, Abubakarr Jah back in 2017. “Young people need to put down their knives and stop the violence. It is destroying families and communities.”
Leading the probe, Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen said:
“It’s hard to imagine the pain and heartbreak Ahmed’s parents have suffered after losing two children in such terrible ways. We believe someone knows who killed Ahmed and can help bring justice and a little closure to his family.” “We know Ahmed was involved in a local gang and this may be a factor in his death. We understand fears and mistrust stop people from coming forward, but we guarantee confidentiality and protection to anyone with information.” “If you were unable to speak before, now is the time to do the right thing.”
How You Can Help
- Call the police incident room on 020 8345 1570
- Or ring 101 quoting CAD 5326/02Apr17
- Contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111—no names or traceable info required
Ahmed’s murder remains under investigation. Three men aged 23 are released under investigation, while another three have been cleared. The post-mortem confirmed death by a stab wound to the heart.
Police urge anyone with information to come forward and help end this tragic cold case.
