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5 hours ago
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The family of a 21-year-old student who was shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match 10 years ago has renewed an appeal for the public’s help to find those responsible.
Ola Raji had spent the evening at a friend’s house watching a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Porto before he was killed in Peckham, south London on the night of Tuesday 21 April 2015.
He had been cycling on the East Surrey Grove estate, near Commercial Way, when he was stabbed and shot in an attack by two men. He later died in hospital.
Raji’s sisters, Zainab Raji and Ruki Ware, said the anniversary of their brother’s death was “a painful reminder of 10 years of loss”. “Our family is not going to get that time back,” they said in an appeal.
The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the murder.
The Metropolitan police said it was interested in speaking to witnesses, including a woman driving a black Vauxhall Corsa in the area between 21.45 and 23.00, and two men “who returned to an address in Pear Court at 23.10”.
In an appeal for information, Raji’s sisters said: “When we get together, there is always that sense of something missing. There are children who never get to know their uncle, who would still be so young even now. The laughter we share is that little less loud. There is a smile absent in the photographs.
“But this is not just about our family. It’s about safety on the streets of Peckham and the wider south London area. There is no doubt the people who did this once could carry out similar attacks again. Maybe they already have.
“We are getting closer to the truth – for example, we now know about phone calls Ola received shortly before the attack. Just the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.”
The pair told MailOnline last week that they had found two new witnesses after being forced to investigate the crime themselves due to police failings.
DCI Alex Gammampila, who is leading the investigation, said: “Ola was an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time. His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community.
“Ten years on, we continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward.
“Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual?
“No piece of information is too small, and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola’s attackers.”
Alexa Loukas, London regional manager at Crimestoppers, said Raji’s death was “deeply unsettling for his loved ones and the local community”.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the possibility that Raji’s attackers left the scene on foot, the Met said.
Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder, and a further two individuals were arrested for perverting the course of justice but no further action was taken against them and no criminal charges were ever brought.
Anyone with information should call 101, giving the reference 2597/16APR25, or upload information, including photos or videos, to the dedicated appeal page.
