First picture of Ali Nasro, 22, who was murdered on North Finchley street

Stabbed: Ali Nasro was knifed on a leafy suburban street
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This is the first picture of the man who was brutally stabbed to death in a suburban street in an alleged row over a £120 debt.

Ali Nasrollahi, known to friends as Ali Nasro, was knifed in the chest on Tuesday in leafy Woodside Park, North Finchley where houses sell for £1 million.

The 22-year-old lay dying in his girlfriend's arms, with witnesses saying she cried "I love you" as she cradled him in the middle of the road.

Mr Nasro, who friends said lived in Hendon, was reportedly involved in an altercation with a man over £120 just minutes before a car with three more people pulled up and attacked him.

One witness said: “You could hear shouting. They were saying ‘you were supposed to give me my £120, ‘why didn’t you bring my £120?’

“Then three men turned up in a car and they all got into an argument. One of them then slashed him across the chest.

Victim: Ali Nasro

“I ran out with tea towels and tried to save him by putting pressure on his chest wound. By this time his girlfriend had got out of the car when she saw him staggering away, and was just screaming and screaming ‘they have stabbed him’, and while he was on the floor she was screaming ‘Ali I love you, I love you Ali’.

“She was praying there on the floor next to him and reciting the Koran while he was in and out of consciousness. It was terrible. I couldn’t sleep last night, all I can see is his face.”

Friends have paid tribute to Nasro, with many taking to social media to express their shock and sadness over his death.

One wrote: "Rest in peace Ali Nasro the news just broke my heart in pieces. I can't believe you're gone."

While another tweeted: "RIP Ali Nasro, such a good person gone way too soon, life is so unfair."

The Met Police said detectives were retaining an open mind regarding possible motive.

Detective Inspector Julie Willats, from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: “We know that the victim had driven to Woodside Grange Road with one of his friends and met up with another friend, who had also driven there. At some stage, the victim interacted with a group of up to four suspects, during that interaction we believe he was stabbed.

“The group of suspects then ran off down Grange Way and into an alleyway that leads onto Woodside Avenue.

“I would like ask for the public’s help. If you were near Grange Way or Woodside Avenue yesterday afternoon and saw anything that might help us then please get in contact. Woodside Avenue is a long residential street. I am directly appealing to anyone who may have seen up to four suspects running away from the alleyway that runs from Grange Way. Did you see a group and see which way they went?

“Specialist search officers are carrying out a full forensic search around the area of Grange Way and Green Bank towards Woodside Avenue. Extra officers will also be out on the streets, carrying out house to house enquiries and talking to local residents.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information can call police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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