Two Muslim worshippers have spoken about the moment a racist gang attacked them outside a mosque.

A much-loved pensioner, and pillar of the local Muslim community, was killed in the attack on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ekram Haque, 67, was beaten unconscious in front of his three-year-old granddaughter Miriam by the hooded attackers.

Mr Haque was put on a ventilator after the attack but died a week later from his injuries.

Atta Miri, 74, from Ewell, was knocked unconscious by the gang as he stood outside the Idara-e-Jafferiya mosque in Church Lane with his wife.

Retired engineer Mr Mir, a father-of-two said: “I had spoken to Mr Haque and was joking with him and his granddaughter. He was such a lovely guy.

“The next thing I remember I was in the hospital. They x-rayed my head and told me there was no lasting damage but I still have bruising.

“When I was in hospital when they told me Mr Haque was badly hurt. I couldn’t believe it when he passed on Monday.

“I am still very shaken but I have been back to the mosque three times. It [the attack] is really, really shocking. I feel very lucky to be alive.”

Fellow worshipper Imdad Bukhai, 39, from Thornton Heath, was also assaulted by the gang.

Mr Bukhai said: “I had seen Mr Haque many times at the mosque when he used to come with his granddaughter.

“He was a very nice man. He was nice to everyone and never had a problem with anyone.”

The married father-of-two said: “After the attack I saw him on the floor bleeding from his head and mouth I didn’t know what to do. I called for an ambulance and the police came and took him to hospital.”

Mr Bukhai said. “I am still very shaken you don’t expect it to happen. I have a pain in my ear but I went to the GP and he said I will be OK.”

Police confirmed they were treating the attack, which took place at about 9.50pm, as racially motivated and linked the murder to another attack on elderly Asians.

The Idara-e-Jafferiya mosque, which attracts thousands of worshippers from around south London, is appealing for calm following the attack.

A spokesman for the mosque said: “The community is acting responsibly but there is a lot of emotion and anger. It hasn’t reached the point of revenge attacks. We have been telling worshippers to stay calm and briefing them on what the police are doing.

“The Koran says there should be no revenge attacks. We have had no violent reaction but we have to watch out that people don’t take advantage of the situation.”

Arfan Haque, a consumer law advisor, said the family was completely devastated.

He said: “It was an attack on a defenceless man outside a church of God with his young granddaughter.”

Mr Haque had planned to take his granddaughter on holiday to Pakistan and Australia, his son said, and was devoted to his community.

He said: “He was a kind and loving person who would always go out of his way to help anyone who needed support. He had a community approach to everything.”

The incident was captured on CCTV but police have appealed for a young boy on a bike and group of young women – who were white, black and mixed race – who were in the area at the time, to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact police on 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Four teenagers from the Tooting area appeared in youth court yesterday (Tuesday). A 15-year-old, and two 14-year-olds were charged with the murder of Mr Haque and two counts of ABH. The fourth boy, aged 12 was charged with conspiracy to commit GBH and two counts of assault.