:dateline:A business owner was killed when he was pushed in front of a lorry after trying to defend his wife from a gang of thieves in east London, police say.�Officers believe Shammi Atwal was pushed into the road as he tried to stop the robbery in Barking.�Up to 10 men armed with metal bars and a sledgehammer entered Glen & Co Cash & Carry in River Road on Monday morning.�Police are treating the death of Mr Atwal, a father-of-two from Essex, as murder.
Mr Atwal, who is believed to be in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His 37-year-old wife suffered minor injuries.�The driver of the vehicle stopped after the collision and was not arrested.�Det Ch Insp Neale Baldock said: “This was a man trying to stop thieves robbing his business.�”He acted bravely in defence of his wife and managed to chase the robbers from his premises only for him to be pushed in front of a moving lorry.”�He urged any witnesses to contact the police. The suspects are described as white males.
A post mortem examination will take place at a later date. No arrests have been made.
