The man stabbed to death in Rose Hill was a cleaner working hard to support his family and wife back home in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it emerged tonight.

Enayit Khalili, 26, had come to Britain for a better life, away from the oppressive regime of the Taliban, and was a well-regarded cleaner at, ironically, Oxford's two police stations.

Yesterday his family, employers and police all paid tribute to a man described as "cheerful and much-liked".

Mr Khalili was found with a horrific stab wound in the stomach at his shared home in Fiennes Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, at 3.30am on Saturday after police were called to reports of a disturbance.

He died 20 hours later.

Six men, also believed to be from Afghanistan, were arrested in the terraced house, and last night five were still being questioned by murder squad detectives. Police have until early today to continue their inquiries before applying for a further extension to detain them.

A 24-year-old man was released without charge yesterday.

No weapon has yet been found, and a search of the area and house-to-house inquiries continued yesterday.

His family appealed for help to track his killer and a spokesman for them said: "We are devastated by Enayit's death.

"He was a young man with the rest of his life ahead of him and we are extremely shocked by what has happened.

"He came to Britain in 2002, and while studying English he also worked for Initial Cleaning Services, cleaning at Oxford and Cowley police stations.

"He was extremely close to his family and was working hard to support them in Afghanistan and his wife, who is living in Pakistan.

"His friends and colleagues will also miss him. He was a cheerful and much-liked person, full of jokes, and he had many friends in both Britain and Afghanistan.

"He loved sport, he played volleyball, went to the gym and practised martial arts.

"Everyone is going to miss him terribly. If anyone has information about his death then please come forward and help the police."

Theresa Bianchi, a spokesman for his employer Rentokil Initial, added: "At this time our thoughts are with Enayit's family and friends.

"We have been in touch with his colleagues to offer them support but can't comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.

"We are working with the police to provide any information they require."

A police source told the Oxford Mail: "He was a very well-respected guy. He was very, very nice and quite chatty."

Yesterday police spokesman Toby Shergold said detectives still did not know whether Mr Khalili was stabbed inside the house. Part of Fiennes Road remained sealed off yesterday.

Anyone with information can contact Det Supt George Turner on 08458 505505 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.