A MAN is fighting for his life after being blasted with a "machine gun" just 20 minutes after another man was knifed in a horrific night of bloodshed on London's streets.

The devastating night of violence comes as the capital remains in the grip of a terrifying rise in crime, including 66 murders since the start of the year.

11 A badly damaged car was riddled with bullets in Brent, with one man left seriously injured Credit: Evening Standard

Both men involved in last night's violence are now being treated in hospital as police rush to investigate just who was behind the separate attacks.

Officers were first put on alert after receiving reports of a 23-year-old man had been stabbed in Deptford, South East London, at 8.10pm.

The victim, who is believed to have been targeted in an assault, was rushed to hospital with stab wounds to the chest.

Just 20 minutes later, a 24-year-old man was reportedly gunned down in his car - with at least 17 shots ringing out in Brent, North West London, about 8.34pm.

11 A night of horror unfolded in London last night, with two men seriously injured in separate attacks

11 Police officers examined the area around Brent after the man in his 20s was gunned down Credit: Jon Bond - The Sun

11 Lawrence Avenue was turned into a crime scene today as police combed the area for clues Credit: Jon Bond - The Sun

11 A police officer works her way along the street as she searches for evidence into the shooting of the young man Credit: Jon Bond - The Sun

A car at the scene was left riddled with bullets.

Witnesses said they had heard as many as 17 shots being fired during the shooting that saw a young man gunned down "in his car".

One wrote on Twitter: "Heard shots all the way from north side Stonebridge as they were fired I counted about 17 shots. Absolute madness!!! Enough is enough!!!'"

A resident told the Evening Standard: “From what I can tell, he was sitting in his car when he got into an argument with someone who then shot at him with a machine gun (at least) 11 times.

11 Police cordoned off the scene in Deptford after the man suffered stab wounds to the chest Credit: London News Pictures

11 A 24-year-old victim was left fighting for his life after being shot in Brent on Thursday night

"The police have told everyone to stay indoors."

Police have today been seen scouring the scene, with many officers on their hands and knees as they search for clues.

A blue forensic tent has also been set up on the street.

The horrific attacks - neither of which have seen any arrests - come as London's "senseless" knife crime continues to soar.

11 Police stand guard at the scene where shots rang out in Brent Credit: Jon Bond - The Sun

11 A police cordon was set up around the scene in Deptford, south east London, after a stabbing on Thursday night Credit: twitter/@Katharina_Greve

11 A 23-year-old man had been stabbed in Deptford just after 8pm last night Credit: London News Pictures

11 A man has been shot in an alleged machine gun attack in Brent, North West London, on Thursday night

Superintendent Tim Alexander, from the borough of Brent, said: "Overnight we found ourselves in the unusual position of having to deal with three violent incidents in our borough of Brent.

"I understand the community’s concerns regarding last night’s events, but I would like to reassure the people who live and work in Brent that we remain a safe and vibrant borough that rarely sees incidents of such violence."

He said the attacks including the devastating death of a young woman who was in the "prime of her life", with a man since arrested on suspicion of murder.

He said: "One of the incidents was sadly the murder of a young woman in the prime of her life.

"However, I would like to confirm that we have a man in his 40s in custody and that we are not seeking anyone else in connection with this incident. I can also confirm that the victim and the suspect were known to each other and that the crime happened inside a private residential property.

"Earlier in the evening, the borough also had a shooting and a stabbing within two hours of each other. Whilst this is of concern, I’d like to reiterate that my officers are working around the clock to identify, locate and apprehend those responsible."

He said extra officers would be on the streets in Brent over the next few days.

It comes as London has been left reeling from the rise in violence on its streets in the first few months of this year.

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Four teenagers were stabbed to death in London on New Year's Eve alone, and 22 were killed in March - with the capital's murder rate momentarily higher than New York's.

Authorities have since blasted the "senseless violence" that has seen more than 60 lives lost in murders in the capital.

An extra 300 officers have been deployed in London to tackle the worsening crime.