Surrey train stabbing: Victim Lee Pomeroy, 51, pictured as family pays tribute hours after man is arrested on suspicion of murder

Victim stabbed to death on the day before his birthday He was taking a trip to spend quality time in London with his only son Lee Pomeroy, 51, died after being stabbed 'multiple times' following an altercation on a train

A father-of-one stabbed to death in front of his 14-year-old son on a train heading to London had taken his boy on a trip to the capital for "some quality time" together, his devastated family said today.

Lee Pomeroy, 51, was identified today as being the victim of the attack on the train in Surrey. yesterday afternoon.

Relatives said in a statement that Mr Pomeroy was stabbed to death a day before his 52nd birthday.

“Lee took his son on a trip to London hoping to spend some quality time with him which was cut short by horrific and pointless attack," his family said.

“Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents.

"He was an honest, bright person, who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in Maths.

"He was devoted family man and did everything for his family. He was an honourable man and would always help somebody who was in trouble. He was a loving husband and father, he will be deeply missed by all his family.”

A forensics officer removes items at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a murder inquiry was launched following the stabbing of a man on board a train
Steve Parsons/PA

Mr Pomeroy was stabbed to death in what police said was a three to four minute "altercation" on board the 12.58 service between Guildford and London Waterloo on Friday.

The victim boarded the train at around 1pm at London Road station in Guildford with his son.

He was stabbed multiple times, according to police.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn said officers were "confident to say that this is not believed to be a random assault.

"In the moments leading to the violent killing, both men appeared to be involved in an altercation lasting three minutes.

A forensics officer aboard a train at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, following the fatal stabbing
Steve Parsons/PA

"Nothing justified the extraordinary violence that followed and we are concentrating our efforts on the on-going investigation."

The victim's family have issued a statement paying tribute  
PA

Mr Pomeroy's son and family members are being assisted by specially trained officers, police said.

Earlier, police said a 35-year-old man was arrested at an address in the Farnham area on suspicion of murder.

The scene at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey, after a man was stabbed to death on a train
PA

A 27-year-old woman was also taken into custody on suspicion of assisting an offender.

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said no-one else was being sought in connection with killing.

He said: "We now know from inquiries we've been doing overnight and from witnesses that the two men were involved in a verbal discussion, that discussion lasted three to four minutes, it moved through one carriage from where they first boarded into another carriage, and that argument escalated to the unprovoked violent attack that sadly resulted in the death."

Philip Herrington, the Rector of St Mary's Church , West Horsley, visited Horsley train station on the afternoon of the attack and the following morning.

Flowers including the message left by Rector Herrington at Horsley station
PA

"I thought I'd come and bring some flowers because you don't really expect anything like this to happen generally, not in a place like this, not on a midday train," Mr Herrington said.

"It's totally lamentable what happened and particularly for the young son to have witnessed what he witnessed."

Mr Herrington spoke to British Transport Police at the scene of the incident on Friday and offered assistance to passengers.

Police officers at Horsley station near Guildford, Surrey,  after a train passenger was stabbed to death 
PA

He said: "British Transport Police officers were pretty shocked at what they'd seen as well."

The pair of arrests are understood to have taken place at a flat in Farnham on Saturday morning.

Witnesses described police guarding a flat since the early hours of Saturday.

Estate agent Wendie Thompson, who lives nearby, said she was shocked to learn this was related to the train stabbing.

She said: "The officers were here when I woke at 8am. Police have been active all day - on guard outside the flats.

"I think there were detectives and armed response officers."

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