Maida Vale double death: Hero driver accused of murder speaks for first time

‘Press release, 26 January 2022.

‘My name is Abraham. I’m a Muslim man.

‘My full name is known to my solicitors and to the Metropolitan Police. I’m aware of newspaper accounts concerning the murder of Yasmin Wafah Chkaifi on Monday, 24 January, 2022.

‘I can confirm that I am the person identified as the driver of the blue Renault Clio. I’ve asked my solicitor Mr Akunjee to convey the following public statement on my behalf.

‘I’m a person of good character, I’ve never been arrested before in my life. This Monday past, I was making my way to work and was waiting in traffic on the Chippenham Road in West London at approximately 9am.

‘I witnessed a man repeatedly stabbing a defenceless woman on the pavement a short distance in front of my car. Members of the public were attempting to intervene. The attacker was wielding a knife and was threatening those brave citizens too.

‘My instant thought was to protect the woman who was being stabbed and the public who were also being threatened. The vehicles ahead of me moved off, which gave me the opportunity to intervene. I drove my vehicle towards the attacker in order to get him away from the woman he was attacking.

‘I did not intend to harm the attacker. I only intended to protect those being attacked. My vehicle struck the attacker and he was taken under my car, causing it to stall. I could not reverse my car to free him.

‘I and the other passers-by attempted to lift the car away from the attacker so we could provide the man with first aid. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful with this and I have since learned that both the young lady and her attacker have died.

‘I am deeply sorry that the man I tried to stop from attacking other people has died.

‘It was never my intention to harm him, I just wanted to stop him from hurting anybody further . My only regret is that God did not allow me to be present at the scene sooner so that my intervention may have saved the life of the young woman concerned.

‘I understand that the police are doing their job and that my being arrested is not unusual. However, I do not see why I as the person who tried to assist in the defence of other human beings remain arrested and on bail under suspicion of murder.

‘I have asked my solicitor to contact the Metropolitan Police to request that they consider de-arresting me and begin treating me as a witness to a tragic event rather than as a criminal as they currently are.

‘I am a family man and wish to keep my family protected from these ill-fated events. I thus request that those in the media do not approach myself or my family for comment or interview. If you have any requests, I ask that you kindly contact my solicitor.’