Three stabbed to death over 24 hours in London as knife crime soars

Three people have been stabbed to death in London over 24 hours as figures show a surge in knife crime in the capital.

Two men, one 19 and the other 20, were killed within five minutes of each other on Tuesday after stabbings in Northolt in north London and Mile End in the East End.

Their deaths come after Rene Richardson, 24, died following a stabbing in Plumstead, southeast London, at about 4.30pm on Monday.

Mr Richardson died in Bournewood Road after he was approached and attacked by two men in neighbouring Grasdene Road.

A 23-year-old man remains in custody after he was arrested in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, on suspicion of murder.

An 18-year-old man is in custody following the death of the 20-year-old in Mile End on Tuesday.

Police said the victim was with a friend when he was involved in an altercation with a group in Wager Street at around 4.45pm.

In Northolt, the 19-year-old was stabbed in Newnham Close and died in hospital at 5.35pm. Three men aged 19 and one aged 18 are in custody accused of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge described the Northolt murder as a "deplorable attack that took place in broad daylight in a residential location".

The deaths come as new figures show knife crime soared in the capital last year.

The Metropolitan Police figures reveal "knife crimes with injury" rose by 20.5% from 3,663 in 2015-16 to 4,415 in 2016-17.

The increase is despite the number of murders rising only slightly from 109 to 110 in the same period.

Knife crimes on the whole rose from 9,742 to 12,074, an increase of 24%.