A murder investigation is under way after a man in his 30s became the ninth victim to be stabbed in the capital’s streets in the last two weeks.
Police were called to the scene outside a McDonald’s on Victoria Road in Kilburn, north London, at 10.24pm following reports that a man had been stabbed.
The victim, believed to be in his mid-30s, was taken to a central London hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after.
The death comes after statistics released from the Office of National Statistics today showed that knife crimes in England and Wales had risen six per cent to a new record high and homicides by ten per cent in the last year.
Today a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘Detectives have launched a murder investigation following a stabbing in north London.
Police have launched a murder investigation after a man in his 30s was stabbed on Victoria Road in Kilburn last night
Police were called to the scene at 10.24pm and the man, believed to be in his mid-30s, was taken to a central London hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. Pictured: Police stand at the scene of the stabbing
‘Police were called at 22:24hrs on Thursday, 16 July to reports of a man stabbed in the area of Victoria Road, NW6.
‘Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended. The victim, believed to be aged in his mid-30s, was taken to a central London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 22:57hrs.
‘Officers are in the process of informing next of kin. Formal identification awaits.
‘A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
‘Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command have been informed.
‘A crime scene remains in place. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.’
Earlier today, figures from the ONS showed police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument rose to 46,265 for the year to March.
This was 51 per cent higher than when data of this kind was first collected in 2011 and is the highest number on record, the report said.
The number of such offences rose seven per cent in London, but dropped 10 per cent in West Yorkshire and remained the same in the West Midlands – the three areas of the country with the highest rate per 100,000 population.
The report said: ‘Knife or sharp instrument offences continue to be concentrated in metropolitan areas across England and Wales, with around a third (34%) of all offences recorded by the police in London.’
The highest rate was also seen in London, with 179 offences per 100,000 population.
This compared with an England and Wales average of 82 offences per 100,000 population.
According to the latest statistics, assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm offences, and robbery, each accounted for 44 per cent of all offences involving a knife or sharp instrument (20,333 and 20,159 respectively).
The ONS report added: ‘Offences involving knives or sharp instruments have been experiencing a rising trend since the year ending March 2014, although in recent years the rate of increase has slowed.’
The latest figures come as tributes were today paid to a talented saxophonist and a ‘caring’ and ‘beloved’ 18-year-old after they were fatally stabbed in two separate attacks in London this week.
Colton Bryan, who was in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene in a first floor maisonette in Redditch, Worcestershire, after emergency services were called to the property at around 9.30pm on July 15.
West Mercia Police arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder and the suspect, from Redditch, was detained by armed officers.
Just hours earlier Ahmed Yasin-Ali was found injured in a separate attack in Elmfield Way, Maida Vale, west London at around 12.30am, the Metropolitan Police said.
Today, distraught friends of Mr Bryan described their ‘shock’ at his death and paid homage to ‘the nicest guy around’.
The talented saxophonist, who regularly played at venues across the region, had released tracks on Spotify and a music video on YouTube.
Colton Bryan, who was in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to a property in Redditch, Worcestershire at around 9.30pm on July 15
The talented saxophonist was pronounced dead at the scene in a first floor maisonette in Redditch
Police officers patrol the area after the attack on July 15 which saw a man in his 20s arrested on suspicion of murder
Mr Bryan also worked at Caribbean takeaway Jerk and Punch where, tonight, a ‘massive get together’ was set to be held.
The organisers said: ‘We’re having a massive get together tonight to say farewell to Colton. 6pm in the car wash outside of Jerk and Punch.
‘Anyone who knew Colton wanting to say their goodbyes – we’re going to be blasting out his talent on the speakers and cooking up some jerk chicken.’
Following Mr Bryan’s death, floral tributes have been laid near the scene of the incident and his friends and loved ones have paid tribute to the ‘kind, caring and compassionate’ individual.
One friend wrote: ‘RIP Colton Bryan. People are too quick to carry a knife or a weapon and are too eager to end lives these days. What is this world coming to?’
‘Never thought I’d wake up to this. Absolutely heartbreaking. RIP Colton. You had so much going for you with so much potential waiting to be released. The nicest guy I have known, the world was too cruel for you. My thoughts are with your friends and family,’ added another friend.
Another heartbroken friend said: ‘Just woke up to find out the awful news about Colton Bryan. I am in absolute shock. One of the nicest guys around and unbelievable on the saxophone. So much going for him and taken far too young.’
While another added: ‘Honestly can’t put into words how distraught we all are. You will forever be missed and always in our hearts. You were so kind, caring and compassionate and always put others before yourself.
‘We have shared a lot of laughs and adventures and it is soul destroying that there’s no more to come.
‘People are sick and twisted and this world isn’t what it should be. So much talent but taken way too soon. We will always cherish what you left. RIP a true underrated legend.’
Ahmed Yasin-Ali was found injured in Elmfield Way, Maida Vale, west London at around 12.30am in a separate attack on the same day. He died in hospital shortly after
Police officers stand at the scene after Mr Yasin-Ali was found injured in a separate stabbing in London
The graph shows the level of murders in London throughout 2020 – with a notable drop during the lockdown period from March to May
A neighbour previously told BirminghamLive how she gave Mr Bryan first aid for 20 minutes in his living room and cradled him in her arms before the emergency services arrived.
She said: ‘I heard screaming and first of all thought he’d just had a row with his girlfriend, but it went on and on and got louder so I thought I’d better go round.
‘The door then opened and a man came out, barged past me and ran down the stairs. He was dressed all in black and had a mask over his face and was bleeding.
‘I went inside and it was like something from a horror movie – there was blood everywhere – on the walls, floor, everywhere. A man was lying on the sofa drenched in blood.
‘He had a cut on his hand, but the big one was in his chest, so I put the towel over that, kept pressing down and lay next to him on the sofa and cradled him and tried to keep him talking.
‘It took about 20 minutes for the ambulance to come and then they came in and took over. They got him on the living room floor and gave him CPR, but it was too late, he was already dead, he had died in my arms.’
Armed officers arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder at an address in Redditch at around noon on Thursday.
Detective Inspector Mark Walters said: ‘A man is now in police custody who has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
‘The victim’s family are being supported by specially trained officers at what is understandably a very traumatic and upsetting time.’
Just hours earlier Ahmed Yasin-Ali was found injured in Elmfield Way, Maida Vale, at around 12.30am on July 15, the Metropolitan Police said.
Police officers gave him first aid and land and air ambulance crews were called, but he died in hospital shortly after 1am.
Data shows that there has now been more than 60 murders in the capital this year
Today tributes were paid to the ‘caring’ and ‘beloved’ 18-year-old who was fatally stabbed in west London.
In a statement issued by Scotland Yard, his family said: ‘Our beloved son, brother and friend peacefully passed away on Wednesday morning. He was loved by all and will forever be missed.
‘Caring, loving, and by far the most clean-hearted of us all. He wanted nothing but good for everyone and himself, striving hard in his school work and job to make it to university in order to provide our family with a better life.’
A memorial appeal launched on GoFundMe has nearly reached its £10,000 target.
The family added: ‘Our family wants to prevent such devastating acts from happening ever again, this means that we are fully cooperating with the police and respect the law.
‘The last thing we need is any retaliation or revenge.
‘We as Muslims forgive those who so painfully took away our precious and beautiful son. Forever in our hearts, our neighbourhood hero.’
Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall said: ‘Ahmed’s family are devastated by the loss of their son and brother and we are working tirelessly to investigate the circumstances surrounding his murder.
‘Ahmed was only 18 years old, had his whole life ahead of him and had aspirations to attend university, so this is a particularly tragic and wasted loss of life.’
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD reference 185/15Jul, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.