Mottingham murder: Young man stabbed to death after fight in south east London street

Police have launched a murder probe after a young man was stabbed to death following a fight in south east London.

Emergency services rushed to Lambscroft Avenue in Mottingham, Lewisham, on Friday at 3.45pm after reports of a fight in the street.

Residents said police and sniffer dogs descended on the scene, finding a 21-year-old suffering from stab injuries in nearby Charlesfield.

Paramedics arrived while London’s Air Ambulance landed close by.

But, despite, battling to save the victim’s life, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three teenage boys, aged 19, 18 and 16, alongside a 20-year-old have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

They are currently being quizzed by detectives at south London police stations.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she first became aware of what had happened when police helicopters began buzzing overhead at around 4pm.

She said: “From what I can gather he was stabbed in the car park and then managed to walk across to the road which is where he died.”

The resident said the scene of the attack was just yards from where an 18-year-old was critically injured following a stabbing in October.

She said: “I’ve lived here my whole life and I’d never heard of anything like this before these two stabbings.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called shortly before 15:45hrs on Friday, 24 February to reports of a disturbance on Lambscroft Avenue.

“On arrival, officers were directed to a man suffering stab injuries on nearby Charlesfield.

“Police officers, London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance gave emergency first aid to the victim. However, the 21-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Police are in the process of informing next of kin.

“Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.”

Anyone with information or who witnessed the assault is asked to contact detectives on 020 8721 4812 or via 101.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org