Number of killings in capital this year passes 50 after death of victim believed to be in his 20s

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A man has died after being stabbed in north-east London, bringing the number of killings in the capital this year to more than 50.

The victim, thought to be in his 20s, was found fatally wounded by officers on patrol in Hackney shortly before 8pm on Wednesday.

Despite receiving first aid, he died at the scene about half an hour later. There have been no arrests and a crime scene remains in place.

In the same borough hours earlier, a man in his 50s died outside a bookmakers in Clapton following a suspected fight, the Metropolitan police said.

Killed in 2018: London's victims of violence Read more

Fatal stabbings in England and Wales are at their highest level since 2010-11, with the escalating violence especially acute in London, where 13 people were killed in two weeks last month.

On Tuesday, Amaan Shakoor, 16, became the youngest murder victim in London so far this year after he was fatally shot the previous day in Walthamstow.

His death came after that of Tanesha Melbourne, 17, who was gunned down about 30 minutes earlier, three miles away in Tottenham. Both were apparently casualties of gang violence.

The Met commissioner, Cressida Dick, has blamed social media for the rise in killings, particularly among teenagers, saying trivial disputes could escalate into violence “within minutes” when rivals set out to goad each other online.

Scotland Yard said it is investigating 55 suspected murders since the start of 2018, including the deaths of two children whose bodies were found in Sussex.

In a statement on the latest killing, the Met said: “Shortly before 20.00 on Wednesday 4 April, officers on patrol on Link Street in Hackney were approached by a man suffering from stab injuries. Officers immediately provided the man with first aid.

“The London ambulance service and London’s air ambulance attended. The man, who is believed to be aged in his early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene at 20.24.”

The Met said the stabbing victim’s family were yet to be informed. “A postmortem examination will be held in due course. The homicide and major crime command has been notified,” the force said.