Chilling moment sword-wielding thugs ambush taxi before stabbing victim through window in ‘cold-blooded’ murder
THIS is the moment four sword-wielding thugs ambushed a taxi before stabbing a man to death through the window.
Anselam Senaj was killed in the “callous and shocking” attack in Newham, east London in November 2023.
Just moments before he was killed, the 26-year-old had said: “There is one car behind – they will kill me” in a chilling prediction.
He was a back seat passenger when his taxi was forcibly stopped by a silver Mitsubishi.
Three of the six people within leapt out and surrounded the taxi.
Clad in black, the attackers were wearing masks and gloves.
Two of them held up massive knives up to two feet long, the Old Bailey heard.
One of the men stabbed Anselam in the chest before the gang got back into the Mitsubishi and fled.
The “brutal cold-blooded assault” only lasted seconds but it was so severe he died at the scene, despite the efforts of emergency services.
The car, which had been stolen, was found burned out the next day.
The court was told Muhammad Saqib Khan, 24, was the one who inflicted the fatal wound – and he fled to Amsterdam after the killing prompting an international manhunt.
He was eventually arrested by Dutch authorities and was brought back to the UK.
It was alleged that Muhammad Samiyul Miah, 19, and Zain Ali, 22, were the other two attackers and the getaway driver was Ibrahim Naim, 18.
The men were convicted of their part in the killing at the conclusion of their Old Bailey trial.
The court heard the motive for the attack was over drugs, although the exact reasons were unclear.
Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC told jurors earlier: “It appears from the drugs subsequently found on Mr Senaj and messages received from his phone that he was involved in drug dealing.”
“When Mr Senaj saw the Mitsubishi coming towards him he clearly recognised he was in danger and told the taxi driver that the occupants would kill him.
“Sadly, he was absolutely right in his assessment of their interest.”
At the sentencing today, the victim’s cousin Elira Senaj condemned the killers, saying: “Cowards and little boys you will always be. You needed numbers and weapons to carry out your task. You fought like a boy not a man where it was an even playing field.”
Judge Judy Khan KC said it was “a callous and shocking attack” in a public street, which was “pre-meditated and planned”.
Drug dealer Khan was found guilty of murder and having a blade and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years for his leading role.
Miah was found guilty of murder and admitted having a blade and was detained for life a minimum term of 25 years.
The sentence reflected Miah’s separate conviction for a brutal rape a 15-year-old girl in a north London park in March 2023.
The girl was raped, punched in the jaw and rendered unconscious as a result of the hour-long attack, the court was told.
Judge Khan told Miah that his offending painted an “extremely disturbing picture”.
Ali and Naim, both from East Ham, were cleared of murder but convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Ali, who was responsible for taking the victim’s phone, was jailed for 14 years and Naim was detained for 10 years and six months.
Detective Sergeant Brett Hagen, who led the Met’s investigation, said: “Anselam Senaj was killed in a brutal cold-blooded assault which lasted seconds, but was so severe he died at the scene.
“Our team conducted a thorough and detailed investigation which led to the arrest of three of the suspects within two weeks of the attack.
“We’d like to thank our partner agencies who helped us ensure the arrest of the final suspect, and bring the case to trial to secure justice for Anselam.
“Our thoughts remain as always with Anselam’s friends and family as they move forward with their life, safe in the knowledge his attackers are behind bars where they belong.”