A MAN has been killed in a "machete attack" in the latest tragedy of the capital's knife crime epidemic.

The victim, believed to be in his mid-40s, was pronounced dead at the scene on Northolt Road in Harrow, north west London this afternoon.

5 Forensic investigators on the scene in Harrow, north west London, after a man died of fatal 'stab or slash wound' Credit: London News Pictures

5 Investigators are currently treating the death as 'unexplained' Credit: London News Pictures

5 A man was arrested on suspicion of murder nearby after he was spotted running from the scene with a 'machete' Credit: @S_Kavinthan/ Twitter

Paramedics from London's Air Ambulance battled in vain to save the man's life after being called to the scene at 3.14pm.

Another man was arrested on suspicion of murder soon after when cops were told he was seen running from the scene with a machete.

And witnesses reported seeing the victim - who locals say was homeless - being "hit several times with a machete" in an attack.

But Scotland Yard is currently treating the death as unexplained while investigators establish whether or not the victim's fatal injuries were recent or pre-existing.

And it is unclear if the machete was related to the man's death.

Enquiries continue as the Homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed.

Residents in Harrow have been on high alert since the death of a local shopkeeper during a bungled robbery for a "few pounds."

Newsagent Ravi Katharkamar was stabbed in the chest on March 24 while opening his Pinner shop, and died 45 minutes later.

Local business owners claim the victim was often seen smoking outside the Ladbrokes betting store.

One woman who wished to remain anonymous said: "I think he was homeless. Whenever I was closing the restaurant I’d always see him wandering about.”

Local MP Gareth Thomas told the Mail Online: "I am very concerned to hear reports of a recent fatal attack in South Harrow in my constituency.

LOCAL FEARS

"I am in contact with the Met Police and Harrow Council to understand who is responsible and why. My thoughts are with the victim and their family."

Two people were also rushed to hospital after suffering stab wounds in Harrow in a separate incident.

Both victims, a boy and a girl, aged 15, were assaulted by a group at the Harrow Recreation Ground but injuries are not life threatening.

A Met spokesman said: “Police were called at approximately 21:20hrs on Wednesday, 3 April to reports of a male suffering stab injuries in Station Road, Harrow.

“A female was also located in nearby Roxborough Road suffering superficial cuts.”

Cops said no arrests have yet been made in the earlier fatal attack

The incident also comes just one day after and 15 miles away from where a fifth person was found to have been knifed in Edmonton, north London after four people were randomly stabbed in a rampage over the weekend.

And a string of attacks last week also saw six people - including four teens - stabbed on Tuesday alone.

There were 44 violent deaths in London by March 26 in 2018 — compared with 33 killings this year.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said of today's incident: "Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 15:20hrs on Wednesday, 3 April to reports of an injured man on Northolt Road in Harrow.

"Officers attended. The man, who is believed to be aged in his mid-40s, was treated at the scene for an injury that was initially believed to be a stab or slash wound.

"He was pronounced dead at 15:50hrs.

"We await the findings of a post-mortem examination to confirm whether this was a recent or pre-existing injury.

HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED WITH STABBING VICTIMS HOSPITALS are treating 21 youngsters a day for knife wounds and other injuries from assaults, official figures have revealed. As many as 4,502 young patients aged 11 to 25 have gone to casualty units or urgent care centres suffering stabbing injuries or similar wounds last year. The figures are expected to be much higher as only 60 per cent of hospitals provided data. This means the actual figure is likely to be around 7,600. The NHS stats were obtained under a freedom of information laws by a croo-party group on knife crime.

MACHETE SIGHTING

"At this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained.

"Next of kin have not been informed. Formal identification is yet to take place.

"One person was arrested nearby on suspicion of murder after officers were informed that he had been seen running from the scene in possession of a machete.

"He was taken to a north London police station where he remains in custody. It is not yet known whether this weapon has been used.

"Borough officers remain in the area and will be conducting an urgent review of local CCTV cameras to establish what has occurred."

5 This map shows where the fatal attack took place on Northolt Road in South Harrow, north west London

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A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 3:14pm today (3 April) to reports of an incident on Northolt Road, South Harrow. "We sent an ambulance crew, two single responders in cars and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance. "Sadly, despite the efforts of medics, a person died at the scene." Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at the North-West Command Unit via 101 quoting reference 4680/3Apr.

5 Police arrested a man near to where the victim died - neither man has currently been named by the police Credit: Dominik Machala / facebook

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