London stabbing blitz enters a second night as two men are knifed to death in 48 hours

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Police were called to another stabbing this afternoon as London’s recent wave of violent attacks continues.   

The latest incident, in Croydon, happened at about 3pm this afternoon as ambulance crews attended the crime scene and reported a 24-year-old man had been stabbed. 

And the violence comes after police were called to five separate reports of stabbings in the nearby south London area between 6.56pm and 9.12pm on Friday.

The Croydon branch of the Metropolitan Police tweeted: ‘Shortly after 3pm, we were notified by London Ambulance Service of a stabbing in London Road near the junction with Oakfield Road.

‘Officers attended and a crime scene is in place. A 24-year-old man has been taken to a south London hospital. We await an update on his condition.’ 

Meanwhile police have started a separate investigation following a fatal stabbing in Kilburn.  

Officers were called to Willesden Lane with London Ambulance Service and found two males suffering stab injuries.

One of the men– aged in his 20s – was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

A second male – believed to be aged in his teens – was taken to hospital. His condition has been assessed as critical.  

It comes hours after a male victim, 22, was found with multiple stab wounds inside a property near Crystal Palace Football Club’s Selhurst Park stadium at just after 8pm last night. 

Named locally as Lavz, he was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later, with horrified onlookers describing how they desperately battled to keep him alive before emergency services arrived.  

The Metropolitan Police said a group of men attended an address in Wisbeach Road and the victim was allegedly stabbed in an altercation.

They confirmed today that the stabbings are being treated as ‘isolated incidents.’ 

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Thorpe, from the Met’s Specialist Crime team, said: ‘We know that a group of males attended the address and an altercation occurred which resulted in the victim receiving a fatal stab injury. 

‘I am aware that this was one of a number of violent incidents in and around the south London area on Friday evening but there is nothing to connect these incidents together at this time.’

Two arrests have been made so far in connection with the bloodshed, both relating to a stabbing in Dingwall Road, Croydon at around 9.12pm. 

The Met said a man in his 40s was taken to hospital for treatment on a non life-threatening wound and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of affray.     

Another man, 38, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and has been taken into custody. 

Of the nine males wounded, two sustained serious injuries but neither are now in a life-threatening condition.

A Section 60 order granting police emergency stop and search powers was in place across Croydon until 8am on Saturday.  

The bloodshed began at around 7pm last night, when officers were called to Chapman Road, Croydon and a man was rushed to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Then, 15 minutes later, four men in their 20s were taken to a south London hospital with stab injuries following an incident in Penwortham Road, Streatham. 

The violence continued at 8.08pm, when police were again called to reports of two men with stab wounds. 

One of the men was rushed to hospital before officers arrived, and another was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A murder inquiry has been launched, and police are appealing for anyone who was in the Wisbeach Road area of Croydon at the time of the attack to come forward.

Detectives say the second man is not in a life-threatening condition. 

At 8.51pm, two men were taken to hospital with stab injuries and one was last night in a life-threatening condition. It is believed both men sustained their injuries during an incident in Jay Gardens, Chislehurst.

The final call was received at 9.12pm, when police arrested a man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following an incident on Dingwall Road, Croydon.

The victim, whose injuries are not life threatening, was also arrested. 

Gold Commander for London this weekend, Ade Adelekan, said investigations were ongoing regarding the circumstances of the five incidents but said they were ‘being treated as isolated’.

He added: ‘However, that does not make this series of violent incidents any less shocking and I understand that residents in and around the areas where these incidents occurred will be rightly concerned.’

One resident, who has lived at the block of flats near the scene of the fatal stabbing for more than 20 years, said she saw police and medical staff trying to save a heavily bleeding young man.

She said the man’s mother later showed up ‘crying and in pieces’.

The witness, who declined to be named, told reporters the man was bleeding from a deep cut to his leg and there was ‘blood everywhere’.

She said: ‘I heard someone shouting but it’s normal because people drink outside, I came down and saw two police and two ambulance guys on the ground with him.’

She said she saw medical staff make an incision in his torso, adding: ‘They tried really hard to save him but there was a lot of blood.

‘There was blood everywhere, it looked like he was cut in the leg and they tried to stop the bleeding.

‘My husband was outside for 45 minutes and said his stepdad showed up and said he was 21. His mum was here crying and she was in pieces. It is terrifying, my son is 19 and I’m worried for him.’

Others reported throwing passersby a towel as they desperately tried to slow the bleeding last night. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene,  

One bystander said: ‘I saw him lying on the ground. He was in a bad way, but he was alive, he was moving. He was injured on his left leg. I tried my best to help him.

‘I work in a care home so when I heard someone had been stabbed I went into the bathroom and picked up whatever swabs and stuff I had.

‘I saw lying there on the floor and by time I got there, the police arrived and started to dress his wounds.’   

Samuel Henningham, 69, a builder who lives in a nearby block of flats, also spoke of the attack.

He said: ‘I came to the window and saw a guy run inside. I was inside my place and my daughter said ‘something is going on downstairs,’ so another guy rushed out to try and assist him.

‘He was lying on the floor and he was bleeding. My daughter threw a towel down to the other guy so he could wrap it.

‘He was still bleeding until the police arrived. It took them about 20 minutes.’ 

Several police officers stood guard around the scene in Wisbeach Road on Saturday morning.

It is located on a quiet estate next to a railway line and officers are making door-to-door inquiries. A white and yellow forensic tent was erected inside the metal gate of a block of flats.

The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have been made in connection with the murder probe. 

The Met’s Gold Commander for London, Ade Adelekan, today confirmed extra resources would be deployed in Croydon this weekend to reassure residents.

He said: ‘While work continues to investigate the motivation and circumstances of these four incidents, I can say that they are being treated as isolated.

‘However, that does not make this series of violent incidents any less shocking and I understand that residents in and around the areas where these incidents occurred will be rightly concerned.

‘Extra resources were deployed last night and will continue to be deployed over the weekend. I would ask people to speak to those officers if you have any concerns or please call 101.

‘Violence has no place on our streets and I want to reassure Londoners that our officers will work tirelessly to locate and apprehend those responsible.’

Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith said on Friday: ‘Sadly, tonight we have seen a number of needless and completely abhorrent violent altercations, including one that has tragically resulted in a loss of life.

‘Officers will be on patrol throughout the night across the South Area Command Unit, with additional resources from the Violent Crime Taskforce and Territorial Support Group deployed to deter and prevent any further violence.’

Police asked anyone with information that could help officers investigating these incidents to make contact.

Det Sup Arrowsmith added: ‘Our officers continue to work around the clock to identify and pursue offenders, bring perpetrators to justice, support victims, take weapons off the street, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe in London.

‘But we are not complacent and cannot do this alone. 

‘We work closely with our communities as they are key to understanding and knowing what is occurring locally.

‘We need to hear from anyone who has information about crime, those who carry a weapon, or those who exploit others for gain or revenge, while putting young people’s lives at risk – we need this information to help keep London safe.’ 

The force said a fatal stabbing of a man in Wisbeach Road, Croydon, at 8.10pm continues to be investigated by homicide detectives from the Specialist Crime Command.

The other incidents are being investigated by officers from the South Area Basic Command Unit and the Met confirmed none of the wounded sustained life-threatening injuries.  

Steve Reed, Labour MP for Croydon North, said: ‘Absolutely horrific news that will devastate our community – thoughts with all those injured, and with the police and medical staff dealing with the situation.’