A man has become the 11th London murder victim in 17 days after dying from a serious head injury.
The Metropolitan Police today arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of murder after the killing in Ealing at 6pm yesterday.
It follows a string of fatal stabbings in the capital as blood continues to be split on the streets.
The force said in a statement: ‘A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Ealing.
‘Police were called shortly after 18:00hrs on Monday, 20 July to reports of a disturbance outside a residential address on Elfwine Road, W7.
‘Officers attended and found a man with a serious head injury. The London Ambulance Service attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Next of kin have been notified. A 36-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, 21 July on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody at a west London police station.’
A police car today blocks off the cordoned road in Ealing after London’s 11th murder this year
The Metropolitan Police today arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of murder after the killing in Ealing (pictured today) at 6pm yesterday
Police on Friday launched two separate murder investigations after two men in their 30s were knifed to death.
Police were called on Thursday to a McDonald’s in Kilburn following reports a man had been stabbed at around 10.24pm.
The victim, believed to be in his mid-30s, was taken to a central London hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after.
Just hours later, a second murder investigation was launched after a man in his 30s was stabbed in Enfield and rushed to North Middlesex Hospital where he died.
The death comes after statistics released from the Office of National Statistics last week showed knife crimes in England and Wales had risen six per cent to a new record high and homicides by ten per cent in the last year.
Police have launched a murder investigation after a man in his 30s was stabbed on Victoria Road in Kilburn last week
A forensic team carry out investigations after a man in his 30s was stabbed in Lytton Avenue in Enfield this morning
Hours after the first Enfield murder, officers were called back to the borough following reports four men were fighting and a man had been put into a vehicle at 4.45am.
Police soon became aware of a man in his 30s who had been taken from the scene to North Middlesex Hospital suffering a single stab wound where he died.
Figures from the ONS revealed last week police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument rose to 46,265 for the year to March.
This was 51 per cent higher than when data of this kind was first collected in 2011 and is the highest number on record, the report said.
The number of such offences rose seven per cent in London, but dropped 10 per cent in West Yorkshire and remained the same in the West Midlands – the three areas of the country with the highest rate per 100,000 population.
The report said: ‘Knife or sharp instrument offences continue to be concentrated in metropolitan areas across England and Wales, with around a third (34%) of all offences recorded by the police in London.’
The highest rate was also seen in London, with 179 offences per 100,000 population This compared with an England and Wales average of 82 offences per 100,000.
According to the latest statistics, assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm offences, and robbery, each accounted for 44 per cent of all offences involving a knife or sharp instrument (20,333 and 20,159 respectively).
The ONS report added: ‘Offences involving knives or sharp instruments have been experiencing a rising trend since the year ending March 2014, although in recent years the rate of increase has slowed.’
Tributes were also paid to a saxophonist and a ‘caring’ 18-year-old after they were both fatally stabbed in two separate attacks in England last week.
Colton Bryan, who was in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene in a first floor maisonette in Redditch, Worcestershire, after emergency services were called to the property at around 9.30pm on July 15.
West Mercia Police arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder and the suspect, from Redditch, was detained by armed officers.
Just hours earlier Ahmed Yasin-Ali was found injured in a separate attack in Elmfield Way, Maida Vale, west London at around 12.30am, the Metropolitan Police said.
Distraught friends of Mr Bryan described their ‘shock’ at his death and paid homage to ‘the nicest guy around’.
The talented saxophonist, who regularly played at venues across the region, had released tracks on Spotify and a music video on YouTube.
Mr Bryan also worked at Caribbean takeaway Jerk and Punch where a ‘massive get together’ was held.
The organisers said: ‘We’re having a massive get together to say farewell to Colton. 6pm in the car wash outside of Jerk and Punch.
‘Anyone who knew Colton wanting to say their goodbyes – we’re going to be blasting out his talent on the speakers and cooking up some jerk chicken.’
Following Mr Bryan’s death, floral tributes were laid near the scene and his friends and loved ones paid tribute to the ‘kind, caring and compassionate’ individual.
One friend wrote: ‘RIP Colton Bryan. People are too quick to carry a knife or a weapon and are too eager to end lives these days. What is this world coming to?’
‘Never thought I’d wake up to this. Absolutely heartbreaking. RIP Colton. You had so much going for you with so much potential waiting to be released.
‘The nicest guy I have known, the world was too cruel for you. My thoughts are with your friends and family,’ added another friend.
Colton Bryan, who was in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to a property in Redditch, Worcestershire at around 9.30pm on July 15
The talented saxophonist was pronounced dead at the scene in a first floor maisonette in Redditch
Police officers patrol the area after the attack on July 15 which saw a man in his 20s arrested on suspicion of murder
Another heartbroken friend said: ‘Just woke up to find out the awful news about Colton Bryan. I am in absolute shock.
‘One of the nicest guys around and unbelievable on the saxophone. So much going for him and taken far too young.’
While another added: ‘Honestly can’t put into words how distraught we all are. You will forever be missed and always in our hearts.
‘You were so kind, caring and compassionate and always put others before yourself. We have shared a lot of laughs and adventures and it is soul destroying that there’s no more to come.
‘People are sick and twisted and this world isn’t what it should be. So much talent but taken way too soon. We will always cherish what you left. RIP a true underrated legend.’
A neighbour previously told BirminghamLive how she gave Mr Bryan first aid for 20 minutes in his living room and cradled him in her arms before police arrived.
She said: ‘I heard screaming and first of all thought he’d just had a row with his girlfriend, but it went on and on and got louder so I thought I’d better go round.
Ahmed Yasin-Ali was found injured in Elmfield Way, Maida Vale, west London at around 12.30am in a separate attack on the same day. He died in hospital shortly after
Police officers stand at the scene after Mr Yasin-Ali was found injured in a separate stabbing in London
The graph shows the level of murders in London throughout 2020 – with a notable drop during the lockdown period from March to May
‘The door then opened and a man came out, barged past me and ran down the stairs. He was dressed all in black and had a mask over his face and was bleeding.
‘I went inside and it was like something from a horror movie – there was blood everywhere – on the walls, floor, everywhere. A man was lying on the sofa drenched in blood.
‘He had a cut on his hand, but the big one was in his chest, so I put the towel over that, kept pressing down and lay next to him on the sofa and cradled him and tried to keep him talking.
‘It took about 20 minutes for the ambulance to come and then they came in and took over. They got him on the living room floor and gave him CPR, but it was too late, he was already dead, he had died in my arms.’
Armed officers arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder at an address in Redditch at around noon on Thursday.
Detective Inspector Mark Walters said: ‘A man is now in police custody who has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
‘The victim’s family are being supported by specially trained officers at what is understandably a very traumatic and upsetting time.’
Just hours earlier Ahmed Yasin-Ali was found injured in Elmfield Way, Maida Vale, at around 12.30am, the Metropolitan Police said.
Police officers gave him first aid and land and air ambulance crews were called, but he died in hospital shortly after 1am.
Tributes were paid to the ‘caring’ and ‘beloved’ 18-year-old who was fatally stabbed in west London.
His family said in a statement: ‘Our beloved son, brother and friend peacefully passed away on Wednesday morning. He was loved by all and will forever be missed.
‘Caring, loving, and by far the most clean-hearted of us all. He wanted nothing but good for everyone and himself, striving hard in his school work and job to make it to university in order to provide our family with a better life.’
The family added: ‘Our family wants to prevent such devastating acts from happening ever again, this means that we are fully cooperating with the police and respect the law. The last thing we need is any retaliation or revenge.
‘We as Muslims forgive those who so painfully took away our precious and beautiful son. Forever in our hearts, our neighbourhood hero.’
Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall said: ‘Ahmed’s family are devastated by the loss of their son and brother and we are working tirelessly to investigate the circumstances surrounding his murder.
‘Ahmed was only 18 years old, had his whole life ahead of him and had aspirations to attend university, so this is a particularly tragic and wasted loss of life.’