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Eight people have been murdered in London in the last week during a horrific spell of bloodshed.

All the victims are men and seven were either shot or stabbed to death.

There has been a surge in knife crime in the capital since Christmas - with the deaths of four men in unrelated stabbings on New Year's Eve proving a dark omen for the coming year.

In February after four young men were stabbed in one night in Camden - two of them fatally - London Mayor Sadiq Khan requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

Khan said: “All Londoners need to know that it is simply not acceptable to carry a knife – you are putting yourself and others at risk – and you will be caught and face the full force of the law."

There have been 38 murders in the capital so far this year, including 12 in March.

However the increase is not a problem just for London, with national figures also showing a rise in knife-related crime.

Below, Mirror Online looks back at all eight murders during a grim week for London.

(Image: PA)

1) Shots fired in Walthamstow

At 9.30pm on Wednesday March 14 police were called to reports of gunfire in Walthamstow in north east London.

An ambulance and an air ambulance was sent to the scene and 20-year-old Joseph Williams-Torres was found with a gunshot injury.

He was pronounced dead on the way to hospital at 10.45pm.

(Image: PA)

Police believe the victim was in a stationary vehicle before a number of suspects approached and shots were fired.

A boy, 15, has been arrested and charged with murder. A 17-year-old boy has also been arrested.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Packer said: "The victim was in a stationary vehicle which was approached by suspects before shots were fired.

"Three people then ran from the scene.

"I would like to hear from anyone who might have seen these people in the area around the time of the incident.

Joseph's parents said: “Joseph was very much loved by his family and friends. He will be missed by all.

"As Joseph's parents we would like to appeal to other parents to look into your hearts and ask yourselves, if I was in that position would I want other parents to pass on any information they know or suspect."

2) Teenager found with stab injuries

An hour later that same evening officers were called eight miles away to Chadwell Heath in east London.

Teenager Lyndon Davis, 18, was found with serious stab injuries shortly after 10.30pm.

(Image: SWNS.com) (Image: Met Police)

He was rushed to hospital but died at 1.16am.

One man was arrested by Met Police and he has since been released under investigation.

3) Gunshots and stabbing in north London

In the early hours of Saturday March 17, shortly before 12.40am, police were called when gunshots were heard in Enfield, north London.

Two men, both in their early 20s, were found seriously injured. Russell Jordan Jones, 23, who had been stabbed and shot was declared dead at the scene at 1.14am.

(Image: Facebook/Spotted Enfield)

The second man had suffered serious stab injuries but has since been discharged from hospital. There have been no arrests.

Detectives say the victims were with some friends outside the parade of shops on South Street near the junction with Scotland Green Road at 12.30am when the attack took place.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: "This was a totally unprovoked attack on the victims and their group, with the level of violence used being utterly deplorable."

4) Man stabbed after 'dispute at private party' in Hackney

At 8.16am on Sunday March 18 police were called to Towpath Walk in Hackney. A man, 37, had suffered several serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 30-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder has since been released under investigation.

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

Detective Inspector John Marriott said: "Our initial enquiries have established that an altercation has taken place involving the victim and the suspect who had both attended a private party at the location.

"It is thought an initial dispute has started inside the party but this has spilled on to the towpath by the River Lea where the victim has been stabbed."

5) Man found dead at hotel in Hounslow

Under three hours later, shortly after 10.52am, a man was found dead at the Heathrow Palace hotel in Hounslow, west London.

(Image: Google)

The death is being treated by Met Police detectives as murder.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and a woman, 19, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

6) Man stabbed in Southall

At roughly 5.30pm on Monday Met Police became aware that a man had attended a west London hospital suffering from a stab wound.

The victim, a 48-year-old man from Slough, died of his injuries at 6.14pm.

Detectives believe the victim sustained his injuries following an earlier incident at Marlborough Road, Southall, near the junction with Brent Road.

(Image: Google)

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two men aged 24 and 19 were arrested in West Drayton and one man aged 32 was arrested in Southall.

7) Man in his 40s stabbed in Walthamstow

At roughly 9.50pm on Monday police were called to a stabbing, again in Walthamstow.

A man in his 40s was found suffering from stab injuries.

(Image: Google)

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

A woman, 36, was arrested three hours later on suspicion of murder.

8) Stabbing outside shopping centre in Stratford after 'altercation'

(Image: Twitter/@KevinTurvey10)

At 9.30pm last night police were called to an incident near Stratford shopping centre.

A man, believed to be 21, was found with multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police were called on Tuesday at 9.30pm hours to reports of a disturbance in Stratford Centre, The Broadway.

"Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and found a man, believed to be in his early 20s, suffering from stab injuries.

"Despite the efforts of the emergency services he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.30pm."

They added: "At this early stage, it is believed that the victim and a friend were involved in an altercation with a group of young males before he was stabbed."

There have been no arrests.