Man stabbed to death over chip row on London bus

LONDON - Police have issued an appeal for help after a 28-year-old man was stabbed to death on a London bus for challenging another passenger who was throwing food around.

Police said Richard Whelan was stabbed repeatedly in front of other passengers including his girlfriend on the number 43 bus in north London after a night out.

British media said Whelan had objected to the man after he threw chips at his girlfriend.

"This was a totally unprovoked attack by someone who obviously carries a knife as a matter of course," Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald said in a statement.

"Anybody could have been the victim of this crime. The victim had done nothing wrong at all.

"It is the casual way in which the suspect acted and the level of violence used against someone who was enjoying a night out with his girlfriend that makes it all the more important that we identify and arrest this man," he added.

Police described the man they were looking for as black, in his 20s, about 180cm tall and with afro-style hair.

Police said they were examining footage from a security camera on the bus. They have already spoken to several witnesses but urged anyone who was on the bus or in the area to come forward.

- REUTERS