Man aged 53 dies after altercation at Betfred shop in east London

A 53-year-old man died on Wednesday in a Betfred shop in east London following what the Metropolitan Police describe as "an altercation with another man who then left the scene".

The police, ambulance and air ambulance attended the shop on Upper Clapton Road, E5, at 4.27pm and found the man unconscious. Despite the efforts of medical staff he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police report that there have been no arrests at this stage.

Betfred spokesman Mark Pearson said on Thursday: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. We're working with the police to establish exactly what has happened.”

It was one of two murders on Wednesday in the Hackney area as an 18-year-old man was pronounced dead due to stab wounds just over a mile away later that evening, with two 17-year-olds arrested on suspicion of murder.

The two cases are not thought to be linked and chief superintendent Sue Williams said on Thursday: "Sadly yesterday saw two people lose their lives in Hackney, a man aged 53 in Upper Clapton Road and an 18-year-old man in Link Street. Our thoughts are with the friends and families of both men at this awful time.

"In Hackney we are working hard to prevent further violence and keep people safe – we have extra officers on the streets, both highly visible and in plain clothes, carrying out a range of intelligence-led operations and patrols."