This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after he was seen running away from the scene of an “unexplained” death in north-west London.

The victim, a man in his mid-40s, was pronounced dead on Wednesday afternoon after he was found in Harrow with an injury that was first thought to be a stab or slash wound.

Scotland Yard said they had arrested a male nearby on suspicion of murder after officers were told he had been seen running from the scene in Northolt Road in possession of a machete. He remains in custody at a north London police station as detectives investigate whether the weapon was used.

The Metropolitan police stressed they had not launched a murder investigation but instead were treating the death as “unexplained”. A postmortem examination will confirm whether the wounds were recent or pre-existing, the force said.

Officers remain on the scene and will be trawling through CCTV footage to find out what happened.

The Harrow West MP, Gareth Thomas, said on Twitter: “I am very concerned to hear reports of a recent fatal attack in South Harrow in my constituency.”

Thomas said he was in contact with police and the local council, adding: “My thoughts are with the victim and their family.”

London’s air ambulance was called just before 3.15pm. The victim was treated for his injury but was pronounced dead at the scene at 3.50pm.

Police said the victim has not been formally identified and his next of kin are yet to be informed.