Haque was born in Kolkata and moved to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, in search of work in 1972. He met his wife there and they moved to London in the early 1980s.

He originally worked in textiles but later became a warden in a home for the disabled. He retired last year and was looking after Marian on weekdays.

Haque's 35-year-old son called the attack 'mindless violence' but urged people to remain calm.

'I would urge people in our community to remember that Islam is a peaceful religion and does not condone revenge attacks. If you want to do anything, just pray,' he said.

Taxi driver Imdad Buhkari told the Evening Standard: 'They came down the road and about six of them broke off from the rest and surrounded the two of us.

'They asked me for the time. I said 'I don't wear a watch' and suddenly someone from behind punched me hard on the jaw. Then they hit the old man [the second victim], whose name is Atameer, and ran off.

'I went round the corner and I was shocked when I saw Ekram lying unconscious on the ground. He was bleeding from his mouth and ear. Now he is in a coma. The doctors want to turn off his life support machine but his family say no.

'It is terrible. Who would do such a thing?'