The murder of an Asian man at last weekend's Notting Hill Carnival was racially motivated say police investigating the case.

Detectives are now studying police video footage which caught a mob of 50 black males rampaging through the carnival before the attack on Abdul Bhatti and his friends.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Condon said a witness described seeing a group of young black males throwing bottles at Asian stall holders before the incident.

The mother and sister of Mr Bhatti broke down during a press conference on Tuesday and they appealed for witnesses to help catch the "animals" who killed the Hounslow salesman.

Mr Bhatti was the family's only son and Ayesha, one of his two sisters, said: "He was the nicest person ever, so full of life."

It is the second tragedy to have befallen the Mulsim family after the death of Mr Bhatti's father recently.

The Brunel University graduate was one of two people killed at this year's carnival but the family refused to comment on the police's alleged lighted handed approach.

Mr Bhatti, 28, was walking with a group of friends down Westbourne Park Road at about 7.30pm, on Monday, August 28, when a section of the mob turned on Mr Bhatti and a group of friends.

A witness overheard a member saying "let's get them" before they charged on Mr Bhatti's friend who was wearing a gold chain.

He was knocked to the ground in his attempt to get away and when Mr Bhatti tried to help him, the group attacked him, kicking and punching him to the ground.

As he picked himself up, a black male was seen running towards him and hitting him on the head with a flying punch or possibly a weapon.

He was taken unconscious to St Mary's Hospital where he died the following evening from head injuries.

Mr Condon said: "We are treating this murder as racially motivated. The group we are trying to identify were about 40 to 50, mostly black and aged between 20 to 30 years old.

"Members of this group were responsible for totally indiscriminate violence sadly resulting in Abdul Bhatti's death. This was completely pointless and racist."

He appealed to anybody who was in the area of the attack between 6pm and 8pm, to come forward especially those with video footage of the carnival.

Mohammed Malik, Mr Bhatti's brother-in-law, described him as a person who "enjoyed life".

He said: "Abdul has enjoyed going to the carnival for a number of years but in the last few years it has degenerated into a free for all. You go to the carnival expecting to enjoy yourself, you don't expect to lose your life.

"All we are worried about is obviously for these animals to be brought to justice and pay severely for the crimes they committed.

"At the end of the day it is criminals and mindless thugs who are intent on mayhem and robbery. That's the overwhelming fact here."

If you have any information call the incident room on 0208 358 1753 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.