POLICE investigating the murder of businessman Ibrahim Yousef believe the man who killed him died hours later in a horrific car crash.

The 42-year-old’s body was discovered on the floor of his home in Gloucester Road, Boscombe, at 12.34pm on Friday.

He had been stabbed twice, and also suffered severe blunt force trauma to his head.

Two knives, believed to be the murder weapons, have been recovered from the scene by officers.

Police attended the address after a fatal crash in Wiltshire at 6.15am on the same morning, in which a man, believed to be from Latvia, was killed.

The victim, who was not formally identified, was driving a Toyota Yaris belonging to Mr Yousef, although the car was not registered in his name.

Police say the vehicle is likely to have been stolen from the property following the murder.

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester said anyone with information is urged to get in touch.

“We believed initially that the owner of the car was deceased,” he said.

“However, when officers attended the house in Gloucester Road, they discovered the body of Mr Yousef, and it quickly became evident that he had been the victim of an attack.”

He said Mr Yousef, who owned the Five Star Car Wash, had a wife and children in Qarsalme, Iraq, and has been in the UK since around 2000.

DI Hester added: “We would like to reassure Boscombe residents that this appears to be an isolated attack.

“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this, as we now have forensic evidence that links the driver of the car to the scene.”

Police discovered Mr Yousef’s home was locked and secure when they attended on Friday afternoon.

Officers do not believe that drugs lie behind the attack, although it has been confirmed that the two men knew each other.

DI Hester said: “We would ask anyone in the area of 5 Gloucester Road between 8pm and 8.30pm on Thursday evening who may have heard anything to come forward.

“Neighbours and employees of Mr Yousef are also asked to speak to police with information.”

An inquest into Mr Yousef’s death will take place on December 6, pending the result of the murder investigation.