On a quiet Tuesday evening in Monks Park, Wembley, a tragedy unfolded that has left a north-west London community reeling. Shazad Khan, a beloved local ice cream seller, was stabbed to death just after 6:10pm on August 19, 2025, in a shocking act of violence that has since led to a murder charge and an outpouring of grief from neighbors and friends.
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers responded to reports of an altercation in Monks Park at 6:10pm. When they arrived, they found 41-year-old Shazad Khan gravely injured. Despite the best efforts of the London Ambulance Service, Khan was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 6:15pm (BBC, Sky News, The Guardian).
CCTV footage, as reported by the Daily Mail, captured the final moments before the fatal attack. The video shows Khan, dressed in a grey tracksuit and black apron, standing outside his ice cream van in an intense argument with another man, described as wearing a grey hooded tracksuit and blue sliders. Witnesses said the exchange grew heated, with the man gesturing animatedly and appearing to jab Khan in the chest. Khan then turned away, reaching behind him to untie his apron, and just five seconds after the footage ends, he was stabbed eight times. The ice cream van, a familiar sight in the neighborhood due to its large teddy bear mascot, was parked nearby at the time of the incident.
Local resident Asim Mahmood Butt, 39, who described himself as a childhood friend of the victim, spoke to several outlets at the scene. "I got a call from one of my cousins. This guy, we know him – he's a famous ice cream guy. He got stabbed yesterday. I came here and his body was still here, and police had cordoned off the area. I know his brothers as well – they're all local. We all used to play cricket and football here in Monks Park. He started selling ice cream about a year ago," Butt told PA News Agency and The Independent. He added that Khan was married and had a young daughter, a detail that has only deepened the sense of loss for those who knew him.
Residents described Khan as cheerful and well-liked, even nicknaming him 'Mr Smiley' for his friendly demeanor. The van he drove became something of a local landmark, known for the large teddy bear that rode shotgun. Another witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the Daily Mail that the van was towed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning, along with a separate white van and a blue car. A blue forensics tent and a significant police presence remained at the scene throughout the following day as investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the attack.
In the aftermath of the stabbing, police quickly arrested two individuals. Zaher Zaarour, 26, of Brent in north-west London, was apprehended in the early hours of Wednesday, August 20, and charged with murder and possession of a bladed article on Thursday, August 21. He has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 22 (BBC, Sky News, The Guardian). A 31-year-old woman was also arrested at the scene on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. She has since been bailed pending further inquiries, with her bail set until September (Sky News).
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, who is leading the investigation, expressed gratitude for the community’s support. "I would like to thank the community for their help and support during this investigation. Residents can expect to see an increase of officers in the local area over the next coming days as the investigation continues," Waller said in statements to multiple news outlets. The heightened police presence is intended to reassure residents and aid the ongoing inquiry.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, the local policing commander for north-west London, also addressed the public's concerns. "Our thoughts remain with Shazad's family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. This incident will rightly cause concern across the community, but intelligence at this stage leads us to believe there is no wider threat to the public. Detectives are conducting a thorough and fast-paced investigation, and locals can expect to see an uptick in police presence in the area. Anyone with any information – particularly dashcam or doorbell footage from the time of the incident – is urged to speak to us as a matter of urgency," Williams told the Daily Mail.
For the Khan family, the loss is immeasurable. Police have confirmed that specialist officers are supporting them as they navigate this devastating period. Community members have echoed their shock and sadness, describing Khan as a fixture in the neighborhood whose absence will be deeply felt.
The attack has also ignited conversations about safety and violence in London. While Detective Chief Superintendent Williams emphasized that there is no broader threat, the incident has nevertheless unsettled residents. The swift police response and the rapid progress in the investigation have provided some reassurance, but the underlying tragedy remains—a man known for bringing joy to children and families with his ice cream van was taken in a brutal and senseless act.
As the legal process begins, all eyes will be on Willesden Magistrates' Court, where Zaher Zaarour is due to appear. The investigation continues, with police urging anyone with information to step forward. The community, meanwhile, is left to mourn a neighbor, friend, and father who, in just a year of selling ice cream, became a cherished part of Wembley life.
In the days to come, Monks Park will see more police officers, but it will also see neighbors supporting one another, sharing memories of 'Mr Smiley' and grappling with the reality of a tragedy that has touched so many. The hope is that justice will be served and that the community can begin to heal, even as it remembers a man who brought a little sweetness to everyday life.
