One dead and 9 injured in 'abhorrent' spate of stabbings in South London

One man was stabbed to death and several others injured in what police described as a night of “abhorrent” violence in south London.

The Metropolitan Police enacted additional stop and search powers after the man was killed and nine others injured during the spate of knife attacks around Croydon.

Scotland Yard said the stabbings were being treated as "isolated incidents", with no suggestion they were linked.

Officers were called to five reports of stabbings in the area between 6.56pm and 9.12pm on Friday.

One of two men reported to have been injured at a property in Wisbeach Road, Croydon - near the Selhurst Park home of Premier League football club Crystal Palace - died at the scene.

Passers-by tried to save his life using a towel thrown to them by residents of nearby flats to try and stop the loss of blood.

Samuel Henningham, 69, a builder who lives in the block of flats near where the murder victim was stabbed, 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. I think he'd been stabbed somewhere in the groin area.

"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."

The Met's Gold Commander for London this weekend, Ade Adelekan, said extra resources would be deployed in Croydon 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.

"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."

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, condemned the violence and urged residents to help police catch those responsible, saying: "There is no honour in staying silent."

He added: “I am devastated to hear that a man lost his life and several others were injured due to knife violence across south London last night. I am in close contact with the Met Commissioner and the local community will see an increased police presence.

"Additional police powers have been authorised. This horrific violence has no place on our streets and I urge anyone with information to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

The violence began shortly before 7pm, when police were called to Chapman Road, Croydon, to reports of a stabbing. Officers found one male victim, whose condition was later assessed as not life-threatening in hospital.

Fifteen minutes later officers were called after four men in their 20s attended a south London hospital suffering from stab and slash injuries, with one believed to be in a life-threatening condition.

Just after 8pm police attended the Wisbeach Road address, where paramedics were unable to save the fatally injured man, and at 8.51pm were again called to a south London hospital, after two males attended with stab injuries.

Around 30 minutes later officers were called to Dingwall Road, Croydon, to reports of a stabbing. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of GBH. The 40-year-old victim, whose condition was not life threatening, was also arrested, on suspicion of affray.

A total of nine men were wounded, one killed, and two people arrested.

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

Detective Superintendent Nicky Arrowsmith said: "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.”

She 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.”

Officers from the South Area Command Unit were on patrol throughout the night, backed by the Violent Crime Taskforce and Territorial Support Group to deter and prevent any further violence.

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

"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,” said Det. Supt. Arrowsmith.

Steve Reed, the MP for Croydon North, described the multiple stabbings there as “absolutely horrific news that will devastate our community.”