68-year-old man who was critically injured as he tried he tried to stamp out a fire during riots in west London has died

68-year-old man who was critically injured as he tried he tried to stamp out a fire during riots in west London has died, Scotland Yard has said.

Richard Mannington Bowes suffered head injuries in a violent attack in Ealing on Monday night and was left in a coma.

Police said he was violently assaulted and knocked to the ground.

They have issued a CCTV image of a suspect they want to speak to about the assault on Mr Bowes. A murder investigation has begun.

Speaking on Thursday when her brother was in a critical condition, his sister Anne Wilderspin, 73, from Derbyshire, said: "It was sort of unreal because you don't think anything like that happens to a relative of yours.

"I mean we've been horrified by the reports of the riots and what's been going on.

"It was a shock and it's still a bit unreal in a way."

She had been hoping to be reunited with Mr Bowes, whom she had not seen for 30 years.

'Terrible price'
She said she was travelling to London to see her brother, who gave her away at her wedding. It is not known if she saw him before he died.

Also speaking on Thursday, Mayor of London Boris Johnson paid tribute to him: "There are many villains in this story but also many heroes and I want to pay particular tribute to Mr Bowes.

"But he has paid a terrible price. I am desperately sorry for him and his family."


Police have identified a "strong suspect" they wish to speak to
Mr Bowes, of Haven Green, Ealing, is believed to have remonstrated with some teenagers who were setting fire to two industrial bins on Spring Bridge Road.

Police officers were then pelted with missiles as they came to his aid.

Det Ch Insp John McFarlane said Mr Bowes had been "violently assaulted and knocked to the ground".

He added: "Through CCTV we have identified a strong suspect.

"I know that on seeing these images of him people will be able to identify him.

"He had been in close proximity to the attack, recording the events on a mobile device.

"If you are the suspect in the CCTV, do the decent thing and give yourself up."