A MURDER victim who was repeatedly stabbed in front of horrified passengers on Tyneside's Metro system knew his assailants

It is believed the unemployed man, who lives in Newcastle's West End, died as the result of a dispute between former friends.

Police were continuing to question a man and a woman arrested in connection with the man's death.

Police believe a row broke out in a carriage, which led to the attack on the victim as he fled the train at Pelaw.

He was pursued by the assailants and repeatedly knifed in the side and lower body in front of passengers, at about 5pm on Thursday.

A witness who got on the train in Newcastle said a fight started between a couple and a man soon after it left Gateshead station.

The woman, 36, who lives in Heworth and didn't want to be identified, said yesterday: "A man and woman were shouting at another man and making awful accusations about him.

"There was a lot of pushing and shoving and swearing. At one stage, the man, who was on his own, was knocked over and fell on one of the passengers.

"I heard a man say he had a knife but I don't know which one it was. The woman was just as aggressive as the men.

"There were lots of people on the train, as it was a busy time but everyone was just too frightened to intervene.

"I saw some people using their mobiles and I guessed they were alerting the police.

"I got off at Heworth and the fight was still going on. It looked as though the three were about to get off at Heworth but they obviously carried on until the next station."