A major manhunt is under way after a knifeman stabbed four people in the back at random in separate attacks in north London.

Two of the victims are said by police to be in a critical condition, while the other two have been described as stable.

Police are scouring the Edmonton area for a single male attacker, who is described as black, about 6ft 3ins, of skinny build and wearing dark clothing, possibly a hooded top.

Image: Forensics officers are investigating the attacks in Edmonton, north London

A man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm shortly before 11am in Edmonton. Officers made a second arrest at a residential address in Edmonton later this afternoon. The second man, in his 40s, is also being held on suspicion of GBH, and both remain in custody.

Following the second arrest, the Met Police said in a statement: "This remains a live investigation and police are pursuing all lines of inquiry.


"Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious to police."

All four victims had been alone at the time and attacked from behind without warning.

:: First attack A 45-year-old woman is in hospital in a critical condition after being stabbed in the back in Aberdeen Road at about 7pm on Saturday.

:: Second attack A male victim was stabbed four hours later in Park Avenue. He was taken to hospital for treatment but his condition is not life-threatening.

:: Third attack Shortly before 4am this morning police received reports of a man stabbed at Seven Sisters tube station, but investigators believe he may have sustained his injuries in Silver Street, Edmonton. The 23-year-old remains in hospital in a critical condition.

:: Fourth attack The most recent stabbing took place just before 10am this morning in Brettenham Road in N18. His injuries are potentially life-changing.

Image: The aftermath of the most recent stabbing in Brettenham Road

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Smillie said police are doing everything they can to "to apprehend the suspect behind these cowardly and senseless attacks".

He said: "We believe the culprit knows Edmonton and may well be from the area.

"The motive for the stabbing appears to be solely to inflict harm."

He added: "The four victims are all from different backgrounds and appear to have been selected at random due to them being alone and vulnerable. There is nothing to suggest this incident is terror related.

"We are working on the hypothesis that the single male suspect is acting alone and mental health issues may be a factor.

Image: The four stabbings took place over a time period of 14 hours

"All of the people he has targeted have been walking alone and he has approached from behind without warning."

Dervish Husseyin, 60, was at his friend's house in Aberdeen Road when the first stabbing took place.

"I seen the woman lying down, face down," he said, adding: "She said they had beaten her up."

Mr Husseyin said the woman had "blood on her back" but did not seem to realise she had been stabbed.

"She said she only went out for a walk on her own," he said.

Image: Police teams are scouring the Edmonton area for the random knife attacker

Mr Husseyin said a man who said he witnessed the attack described seeing two black men.

Natasha Cameron, 45, lives in Aberdeen Road and was walking home from work at a nearby casino after 10pm.

She said she saw officers on her road who told her there had been a stabbing but she was unaware of the later attacks.

"I'm scared now because I always walk here from work home," Ms Cameron said.

"Now I'm definitely taking the bus."