Tributes have been paid to a “truly special” charity worker who was stabbed outside his home in Maida Vale last week.

Abdul Samad was approached by two boys and stabbed to death on October 16 outside his home on St Mary’s Terrace.

Mr Samad worked for the Dragon Hall Trust and the charity have paid tribute to their ‘friend, colleague, and self-confessed tech geek’.

“The horrific and devastating impact of knife crime has been brought into painfully sharp focus for everyone connected to Dragon Hall,” chair of trustees at Dragon Hall, Cllr Sue Vincent said to a Camden Council meeting last night.

“Here was a young man on the cusp of something truly special, someone who had found a calling in passing on his knowledge, vision and unbridled enthusiasm for technology to young people. We will miss him.

“His parents Leila Begum and Fazal Miah, brother Ahad and other loved ones, particularly his yet to be introduced to the family, close friend Sultana - face a bewildering, heartbreaking loss. No words can comfort.

“He had a fabulous ability to make people feel at ease, to let them know that he was interested and cared about them. We are navigating blindly through uncharted territory. As a close working family, we have learnt that nobody is replaceable and we will never find another like him. And this loss gives rise to our greatest regret: for all the young people who will now miss the opportunity to learn and grow through his care, guidance and sheer love of life,” she added.

Two boys, Nathan Gilmaney, 18, and a 17 year old who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with Mr Samad’s murder, after they were arrested in West Hampstead in the early hours of October 17.

They appeared at the Old Bailey on October 24 and are set to appear at the same court again on January 9.