Two people have been stabbed to death in London in separate domestic incidents within the space of an hour, bringing the number of killings in the capital this year to almost 60.

A man in his 20s was attacked with a knife in Colindale, north-west London, just before 6pm on Sunday. Land and air ambulance crews treated him at the scene and he was taken to hospital in central London, but he died later in the evening.

A woman, also in her 20s, who knew the victim, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

About 40 minutes later, a woman in her 30s was stabbed to death in Brixton, south London.

She was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services. A man was arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody at a south London police station; investigations are continuing.

The pair are thought to have known each other, and the victim’s next of kin have been informed. Formal identification of the woman has not yet been completed.

London’s air ambulance attended the incident and officers from the Metropolitan police homicide and major crime command have been informed.

The two deaths bring the number of murders in London so far this year, for which the Metropolitan police have publicly released details, to around 59.