Police hunt suspect over murder of ‘true gentleman’ bus driver in Stoke Newington

Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a bus driver who was on his way home from work in east London have named a man they urgently want to speak to.

Derek Thomas, 53, was killed in Northwold Road on the junction with Stoke Newington Common.

Distressing footage posted to social media shows police officers and medics applying CPR to him on the pavement behind a cordon at 11pm on Tuesday.

Scotland Yard took the unusual decision to release details of Kamar Williams, 33, who lives in the Isle of Dogs , and warned members of the public not to approach him.

Sightings of Williams, known to frequent east and south east London, should be reported via 999 immediately.

Mr Thomas has been described by colleagues as “a true gentleman at work and always smiling”.

A post mortem examination held at Poplar Mortuary on Thursday gave his cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Mr Thomas’s next of kin are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers.

A 30-year-old woman arrested on Saturday on suspicion of assisting an offender and remains in custody.

The homicide investigation is led by Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers in the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Paying tribute to Mr Thomas, Tom Joyner, managing director for Go-London, spoke of his “great sadness”.

“The entire team at Go-Ahead London is saddened by this incident and the tragic loss of one of their colleagues, and our thoughts are with the family of the colleague who has lost their life,” he said.

“We will ensure our teams and the family of our colleague receive any support required from Go-Ahead London during this difficult time. We are assisting the Police with their investigation into the incident.”

Information about Williams’s whereabouts can be shared with the incident room on 0208 345 3715, quoting Operation Brooktunnel or CAD 8517/30Jul, or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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