A murder investigation has been launched after a man was fatally stabbed as he confronted a gang of moped thieves with his father.
Both men, aged 27 and 46, suffered machete wounds in the attack outside their home in Chadwell Heath, east London.
The younger man has been named locally as Ricky Hayden.
Scotland Yard detectives said the father and son saw a group of up to four men attempting to steal a moped after hearing a disturbance outside their home in Gibbfield Close at around 1.35am on Tuesday.
The men were stabbed in an altercation and the thieves fled the scene without the moped.
The victims were taken to an east London hospital where the younger man was pronounced dead in the early hours of Wednesday, the Press Association reported.
His father remains in hospital, although his injuries are said to not be life-threatening.
A source told The Mirror the father will require plastic surgery after suffering an injury to his arm. He added he had been told by police that the younger victim’s injuries were so severe his leg had been amputated.
Two men were arrested in the early hours of this morning on suspicion of murder. Both remain in custody at an east London police station.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command appealed for anyone who may have seen or heard anything to come forward.
Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.