Two more killed in brutal attacks on the streets of London

An MP has warned violence is now ‘endemic’ in parts of London and said drugs have become as prolific as ordering a pizza following a spate of murders in the capital.

Two more people were killed on Wednesday taking the number of fatalities in the capital this year to at least 50.

A 18-year-old man was knifed to death and a 50-year-old man was reportedly punched to the floor and killed in two separate attacks in east London.

David Lammy, a former Labour minister and the MP for Tottenham for 18 years, has described the violence as the ‘worst I’ve ever seen it’.

He also slammed the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, and Home Secretary Amber Rudd over their reaction to the killings.

He said: ‘What we’re seeing today is the worst I’ve ever seen it.

‘I’ve had four deaths in the London Borough of Haringey since January, I’ve had as many knife attacks as there have been weeks in the year.

‘There are parents, friends, families, schools, traumatised and grieving, and there is absolutely no sign of reduction in the violence.’

He said an ‘£11 billion cocaine drugs market’ drives gangs in turf wars, adding: ‘We are the drugs market of Europe and I think the police and our country has lost control of that drugs market.’

He said he was ‘hearing nothing’ about what is being done about the rise in the drugs market.

‘Drugs are prolific – it’s like Deliveroo, they’re as prolific as ordering a pizza.’

He said that, despite four deaths in the borough, he had not had a phone call from Home Secretary Amber Rudd or London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

“No-one has come to visit my constituency. This is happening across London at large.

“Frankly, I’m sick of the political football: what I want is a political consensus.”

The 18-year-old man became the latest fatality on Wednesday evening after suffering devastating knife wounds in an attack.

The teenager, named locally as Israel, stumbled towards police in Hackney’s Link Street shortly before 8pm yesterday evening but, though officers immediately performed first aid on the victim, he died soon after.

Two 17-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder and police are appealing for witnesses.

Earlier, a man in his 50s died from a fatal head injury after he was reportedly punched to the floor outside a bookmakers in Clapton.

The man was reportedly a regular at the Betfred shop in Upper Clapton Road. His attacker fled the scene shortly before 4.30pm.

Speaking at the scene on Thursday morning, Hackney MP and shadow home secretary Ms Abbott said: “It’s really tragic, it’s really horrible and mothers all over the capital must be thinking ‘I can say goodbye to my son this morning but will he come back tonight?’

“Whether their son will turn out to be a victim or a perpetrator, it’s traumatising for families.”

She blamed the wave of bloodshed on London’s streets on cuts to policing and youth and social services.

“Here in Hackney we’ve lost one in 10 of our police officers since 2010, but there also needs to be more work done in youth work, in schools, even in mental health,” she said.

The deaths come amid a huge surge in violence in London, which has seen more than 50 murders since the beginning of the year.

The victims include nine teenagers – seven who were stabbed to death and two who were shot dead.

Earlier this week, 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne was shot dead after becoming caught in the cross of a drive-by shooting in Tottenham, North London.

Her death was followed by that of 16-year-old Amaan Shakoor, who was shot in the face in Walthamstow, before he died in hospital on Tuesday.

In total, two women and nine men have been murdered in the capital since March 17.

Russell Jordan Jones, 23, died of stab wounds and a gunshot wound in Enfield in the early hours of March 17. Two men in their early 20s were also found seriously injured at the scene.

Hersi Hersi, 36, was killed in Hounslow on March 18. Two men have been charged with her murder.

On the same night, Tyrone Silcott, 42, was stabbed to death in Hackney. A man has been charged with his murder.

Balbir Johal, 48, died after he was stabbed in Southall on March 19. Two men have been chargd with his murder.

Jermain Johnson, 41, was also stabbed to death on March 19.

Beniamin Pieknye died after he was treated for stab wounds at the Stratford Centre on March 20. Police have made five arrests in connection with the killing.

Abraham Badru, 26, was shot dead in Hackney on March 25. Mr Badru was awarded the National Police Bravery Award in 2009 for stopping a rapist attacking a teenage girl.

David Potter, 50, was found stabbed to death in Tooting on March 26. A 44-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed.

A 23-year-old man died after he was stabbed in the neck in Plumstead on March 29.

Devoy Stapleton, in his 20s, was stabbed to death in Wandsworth on Easter Sunday, April 1. His murder was the 31st fatal knife attack in London in 2018.

Responding on Twitter to the spate of deaths, Sadiq Khan blamed Conservative cuts to policing: ‘Tory police cuts have already cost London thousands of police officers & staff, most of our police station front counters & police buildings.

‘City Hall’s 2018/19 Budget invests an additional £110 million into the Met, boosting officer numbers & helping to tackle knife crime.’