Murder hunt begins after shopkeeper dies from stabbing injuries

Javaid Ali: Police trying to establish motive for 'mindless' attack.

Police have launched a murder inquiry after a grocer who was brutally stabbed in his shop died from his injuries.

Javaid Ali spent two weeks fighting for his life after the attack in his Sunshine Grocers store in Green Road, Paisley, on June 15.

Strathclyde Police said the 48-year-old father of three succumbed to his injuries in the town's Royal Alexandria Hospital on Friday.

Detective Chief Inspector Duncan Sloan said police were still trying to establish the motive for the "mindless" attack.

DCI Sloan said: "Unfortunately, Mr Ali's injuries were such that he was unable to recover from them. Mr Ali was a family man, married with three sons and our thoughts are with his family at this time.

"We have still to establish a motive for this mindless attack but our focus remains on finding whoever is responsible. All lines of inquiry will be pursued.

"Mr Ali has had his shop for more than four years and he was very well known in the area. I feel sure that the answer to this violent crime lies within the community and I would stress that we cannot investigate in isolation - I would therefore appeal to local people to get in touch with us.

"Any piece of information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please pass it on and let us assess it - it could prove vital in helping us trace those responsible."

Police have carried out door-to-door enquiries and stopped and questioned passers-by at the scene of the attack last Friday, speaking to more than 160 potential witnesses.

Detectives still want to trace a number of potentially crucial witnesses, including a woman in her thirties who stopped her car outside the shop shortly after the attack.

They also want to speak to a man seen walking away from the shop carrying a loaf of bread at about 3pm and a woman, aged about 18, who was wearing an apron and carrying Aldi shopping bags.

DCI Sloan said: "We have previously made appeals for specific people, who were seen in the area around the time of the attack to contact us. Unfortunately, these people have yet to get in touch and I would urge them to come forward - they may unwittingly, have information that could move this investigation forward."

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