Detectives are questioning two men and a woman over the murder of a Birmingham shopkeeper.
The 48-year-old victim, named in reports as Suppiah Tharmaseelan, was attacked at Select Convenience Store in Kingstanding, in what police believe was a robbery gone wrong.
He suffered three stab wounds and despite the best efforts of medics, was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday night.
A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested at 7am on Sunday at an address near the border of Kingstanding and Sutton Coldfield.
A third person, a 29-year-old man, was arrested on Monday morning.
Police said all three were being held in Birmingham.
The victim’s wife, Sangeetha, was understood to have been visiting relatives in France and travelled back to Birmingham after being told of the incident.
The family, originally from Sri Lanka, lived above the shop with their two sons and daughter.
Abid Hussain, 40, who owns a takeaway next door, said: “I saw him just hours before he died and he was very happy serving customers and he told me his business was going well.
“I can’t believe that he is no longer in this world over just a few hundred pounds.
“The family told me that a few people came inside and that they wanted money and they tried to get it from the till.”
He added: “His wife had been in France visiting family and her relatives told her to come back because her husband had been injured. They did not want to tell her he had died because they didn’t want to panic her.”
Acting Superintendent Richard Youds, from North Birmingham police, said extra police were patrolling the area in a bid to reassure residents and business owners.
He added: “We would like to speak to anyone who saw four men running from the store or anyone who has information that could lead to their identity.”
