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Detectives investigating the race murder of a Muslim care worker are seeking a number of teenage girls in connection with the attack.
Police said the inquiry into the killing of Ekram Haque, 67, was continuing and renewed an appeal for witnesses to the bank holiday Monday assault.
Three schoolboys - two aged 14 and one aged 15 - have already appeared in Sutton youth court charged with the murder of Mr Haque, who was battered to the ground in front of his three-year-old granddaughter Marian as he stood outside a mosque in Tooting.
Today his son Arfan, 35, appealed for calm in the community and urged local people not to take reprisals for the killing.
He said: "If there are tensions out there I just want to calm things down.
"My father was a very loving person. I want everyone to respect their religion. The Koran doesn't condone revenge attacks, it is in the hands of the police now."
Mr Haque, a devout Muslim, suffered fatal brain damage in the attack and died on Monday, a week after he was attacked.
He and Marian were waiting for a lift when the gang of schoolchildren ran up behind him and hit him over the head. Two other worshippers, including a 74-year-old, were also assaulted.
Police are linking the attack to other assaults on elderly Asians. The attackers, who were black and wore hooded tops, are believed to be as young as 12.
They were part of a mob - including a number of girls - involved in assaults and anti-social behaviour. A number of assailants were caught on CCTV.
Mr Haque, a consumer law adviser, described the attack on his father as "completely mindless" and "total thuggery." Scotland Yard is treating the attack as "racially motivated".
Tensions in the community are believed to have been running high and police have stepped up patrols near the Idara-e-Jaaferiya Islamic centre where Mr Haque was attacked.
Mr Haque said his father was born in Calcutta but moved to Belfast in search of work in 1972. He met his wife there and they moved to London in the early Eighties.
He said: "He loved London and considered himself a Londoner.
"He was enjoying his retirement and was looking after my daughter during the week. They were very close."
His father originally worked in textiles but later became a warden in a home for the disabled.
He retired last year and was looking after Marian on weekdays.
At the time of the attack, he was making final preparations to take her to Pakistan and Australia on holiday.
Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Reader views (6)
after reading this article it has given me goose bumps, what has this world come to. the attack itself is absolutely horrendous and disgusting but also th fact that it ws in front of his grandaughter.
the punishment is this country for muredr should get harsher, it makes me sick tinking that these murderers will be walking the sreets again in probly 20years
- Latifa Khanom, london, 13/12/2009 01:21
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I have been complaining to Police about anti-social behaviour in this immediate area for 3 years now.
I still don't see any foot patrols at night.
The police station just around the corner isn't even open after 10pm.
- James Evans, Tooting, UK, 13/12/2009 00:21
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Sara, unfortunatley they will probably be out & free to roam the street again in less than 10 years.
- Dom, London, 13/12/2009 00:21
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Mindless violence. Let's hope they are put away for a very long time. These are kids and therefore you have to also hold their parents partly responsible for their kids' behaviour. The parents should also be brought before the courts.
- John, London, 13/12/2009 00:21
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shocking, very upsetting, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, may he rest in peace. I hope those who did this will pay the price
- Sara, birmingham, 13/12/2009 00:21
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This is blatant mindless thugery, these youths dont have any direction
- Tariq, GREENWICH, 13/12/2009 00:21
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