LONDON has overtaken New York for murders for the first time in modern history as knife crime in the capital spikes.

Fifteen people were murdered in the Big Smoke during February compared to 14 in the Big Apple.

21 A man was murdered in Wandsworth as the violence continued in London Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

21 There are fears for a teenage boy fighting for life after being stabbed in Bow, East London Credit: London News Pictures

Both cities have almost exactly the same population.

The number of London murders for March also beat New York's with 23 and 21 respectively - 13 of those in the UK capital coming in just 19 days.

And today there are fears for a teenager is fighting for his life after being stabbed in East London.

The 16-year-old boy was in critical condition last night after being attacked in Bow at about 6.05pm on Easter Sunday.

21 Thirteen people were killed since March 14 in London

21 Tributes were placed at the scene in the latest bloodshed Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

A woman who later passed the scene of the stabbing voice the thoughts of many Londoners as she said: "Too much s*** happening in this area.

"Every day there's someone getting hurt or killed. Can't wait to move away from this hopeless, horrific, disastrous place."

Two men were arrested and were being held last night at a police station in East London.

A man who was knifed to death in Wandsworth last night the latest murder victim in London's knife carnage.

He was attacked as he walked home from a pub and a 21-year-old man was arrested.

Det Ch Insp Mark Cranwell said: "Sadly, another family has been left devastated with the tragic death of a young man from an act of violence.

"We are appealing to anyone who was in the area to come forward.

"We know that the victim left a bar in Garratt Lane, SW18 at 1.05am and then seven minutes later he was found on Ellerton Road at the junction with Burntwood Lane."

It comes after 36-year-old Leyla Mtumwa was found stabbed to death at a house in Haringey, north London, on Friday.

21 Leyla Mtumwa was found stabbed to death at a home in north London on Friday

Kema Salum, 38, has been charged with murder.

The total number of London murders, excluding victims of terrorism, has shot up by 38 per cent since 2014.

So far this year 46 people have been murdered in London, 31 of which were knife attacks.

FBI data and studies by the University of California, show that since 1800 London has had a murder rate per person of between half and a 20th of New York’s.

Including January, London still had ten fewer total murders his year — 46 against New York's 55 — and its total in 2017 was also lower.

But the gap between the two cities is narrowing.

Metropolitan police commissioner Cressida Dick, blamed social media for escalating disputes into violence.



We round up the tragic victims of knife crime in London since February:

Seyed Khan, 49 - February 1

21 Seyed Khan was found dead in a cemetery in Ilford

From Thamesmead in south-east London, Seyed's body was found in Ilford Cemetery over a week after he had been reported missing.

A man from Ilford has been charged with his murder.



Hasan Ozcan, 19 - February 3

Hasan, 19, had been stabbed several times in Abbey Road, Barking, East London just after 10pm.

He was pronounced dead at the scene under an hour later.

A local resident said that a gang of youths came to a nearby estate and chased a group of people, which included Hasan before he was stabbed.

Kwabena Nelson, 22 - February 3

21 Kwabena Nelson, 22,was ambushed outside his home in Tottenham and stabbed to death in early February Credit: Twitter

Kwabena was ambushed while he was walking home in Haringey, north London before being stabbed to death.

Neron Quartey, 20, has been charged with murder, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance.



Juan Olmos Saca, 39 - February 4

Juan, from Southwark, was stabbed in the chest at a house in Peckham, South London at around 2.30am on January 39.

He died in hospital on February 4.

Six men were arrested at the scene. One man has been charged and five others have been released with no further action.

Hannah Leonard, 55 - February 9

Hannah was found stabbed to death in a flat in Camden on the Chalcots Estate at around 10.30am.

Two people have been charged with her murder.

Sabri Chibani, 19 - February 11

Sabri collapsed in Hopton Road in Streatham, south London after being stabbed in the chest.

Police were called and he was pronounced dead at around 3.50pm.

Ronny Padilla, 23, of Hopton Road, has appeared at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court charged with murder.

Bulent Kabala, 41 - February 12

21 Bulent Kabala

Officials believe the taxi driver from Enfield was shot in the head and chest in a targeted hit.

Bulent was driving a silver Mercedes, which he used for his work, when he appears to have got out of his car.



Saeeda Hussain, 54 - February 13

Saeeda was found dead at an address in Staines Road and pronounced dead at the scene.

Muhammad Javed, 58, has been charged with her murder.

Promise Nkenda, 17 - February 14

21 Promise Nkenda, 17, was knifed to death in ‘targeted attack’ in east London Credit: Collect

The teenager was stabbed to death in Canning Town.

Police said he had suffered a "sustained, targeted attack".

A 14-year-old boy was arrested on March 1 and charged with murder.



Mark Smith, 48 - February 15

The man was found in an unresponsive state in Chingford, west London at around 6.45am.

A 38-year-old homeless woman has been charged with his murder.

Lewis Blackman, 19 - February 18

21 Lewis Blackman, 19, who was stabbed to death after a party in Kensington, west London, on February 18 Credit: PA:Press Association

Lewis, from Camden, was found in Kensington in the early hours of February 19 - had been stabbed in the chest.

Three teenagers have been charged with the murder .



Rotimi Oshibanjo, 26 - February 19

The 26-year-old Rotimi was fatally stabbed inside a property in the Halliday Square housing estate in Southall, west London.

Police were called to the estate at around 3.30pm after reports of a disturbance and found Rotimi with stab injuries.

Abdikarim Hassan, 17, and Sadiq Mohamed, 20 - February 20

21 Abdikarim Hassan who was murdered in North London on February 20 Credit: Dan Jones - The Sun

21 Sadiq Mohamed

Both men were stabbed to death in Camden, north London.

Hassan was knifed outside a shop at around 8pm while Mohamed was found in the street just after 10pm.

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Jozef Boci, 30 - February 23

21 Jozef Boci

Originally from Albania, Jozef was beaten to death with blunt objects in Greenwich, south-east London in the early hours.

He was found near the North Pole pub, lying unconscious in the street with serious head injuries.

Four men have been charged with his murder.



Joseph Williams-Torres, 20 - March 14

21 Joseph Williams-Torres, 20, who was fatally shot in a car in east London Credit: PA:Press Association

Joseph Williams-Torres, 20, was found with a shot in Walthamstow, east London, at 9.30pm.

He died on the way to hospital.

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



Lyndon Davis, 18 - March 14

21 Lyndon Davis, 18, was stabbed to death in Chadwell Heath, east London

Lyndon Davis, 18, was found with fatal stab wounds in Chadwell Heath, east London and died on the way to the hospital.



Russell Jones, 23 - March 17

21 Russell Jones was stabbed and shot dead in an unprovoked attack in Enfield

The 23-year-old was stabbed and shot in an unprovoked ambush outside shops in Enfield.

He was declared dead at the scene at 1.14am.



Naomi Hersi, 36 - March 18

21 Naomi Hersi, 36, Credit: Met Police

Transgender woman Naomi Hersi, 36, was stabbed to death at the Heathrow Palace hotel in Hounslow.

She was of Somali origin and lived in US before returning to the UK.



Tyrone Silcott, 41 - March 18

21 Tyrone Silcott, 41, was killed during a row at a St Patrick's Day Credit: Met Police

The dad-of-two was stabbed to death at a St Patrick's Day party in Hackney.

A row from the party turned deadly and spilled into the River Lea towpath.



Balbir Johal, 48 - March 19

21 The 48-year-old died from stab wounds

The 48-year-old, from Slough, Berkshire, died from stab wounds just before 6.14pm.

Cops believe the victim had been fatally injured at Marlborough Road, Southall.



Jermaine Johnson, 41 - March 19

The 41-year-old was stabbed at 9.50pm in Walthamstow.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Beniamin Pieknyi, 20 - March 20

21 Beniamin was stabbed to death at a Stratford shopping centre Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Beniamin was killed at a Stratford shopping centre.

He suffered multiple stab wounds.



Abraham Badru, 26 - March 25

21 Abraham Badru was shot dead in Hackney Credit: PA:Press Association

Abraham was shot dead in Hacknet at 11pm.

He won a 2009 bravery award for stopping a rapist.



David Potter, 50 - March 27

David was stabbed to death in a property on Tooting High Street, London on 26 March.

Cops rushed to the home at 2.45pm after reports from neighbours. He died the following day.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has come under increasing pressure to tackle the knife crime epidemic plaguing the capital.

A total of 26 teenagers were murdered in London last year, 20 of whom were fatally stabbed, the highest number since 2008.

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