Knightsbridge stabbing: Man knifed to death near Harrods was being robbed, police believe

A young man who was stabbed to death yards from the world-famous department store Harrods was being robbed, police believe.

Detectives believe the attack, which left another man injured, was carried out by two males who were trying to steal from them in the early hours of Friday morning.

The two victims are said to have been on their way home just after midnight having eaten at a nearby restaurant.

The 26-year-old victim was one of three men who were fatally stabbed in a little over 12 hours of violence in London.

Exauce Ngimbi, 22, was pronounced dead just after 2.30pm on Thursday in Hackney, east London, after an altercation involving a group.

Meanwhile another man was stabbed to death in Deptford, south-east London, at about 3am Friday.

Harrods, in Knightsbridge, was open on Friday although a crime scene was in place nearby after police were called to Brompton Road just after midnight.

The 26-year-old victim was found unconscious with a stab wound to the back and was pronounced dead at the scene just before 1am.

He has not been formally identified, but his family has been told.

His injured companion remains in hospital, with his injuries described as not life-threatening.

Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: "It appears that the victims were going home having just attended a nearby restaurant.

"They were approached by two males on Basil Street, at the junction with Pavillion Road. It was here that the two male suspects confronted the victims.

"Although at an early stage, we believe that the victims were approached in order to steal property from them and were attacked during that encounter.

"We retain an open mind concerning the motive for the attack and are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry at a pace.

"I urge anyone who has information concerning this incident to contact my team, who are waiting to speak with you. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence."

Scotland Yard has arrested three men, one aged 23 and two aged 26, and a 14-year-old boy, over the murder of Mr Ngimbi.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine said: "Exauce's family are devastated but I want to assure them, and the wider public, that we will work tirelessly to ensure those responsible for this murder face justice."

Last year, there were 141 police-recorded homicides in the capital, the highest in a calendar year since 2008, according to official Home Office statistics.

The killings bring the number of homicide investigations launched in London this year to 129 — five fewer than 2018’s decade-high total of 134.

Read more

Watch the dramatic demolition of the iconic Ironbridge cooling towers