A detective has appealed to youths to think twice before carrying knives following the stabbing of a young man in Kilburn.
The news of the knife attack in Brondesbury Villas, in the early hours of Sunday morning brings the total number of stabbings within a mile radius of the Queen’s Park area to SEVEN in just three days.
The victim, who is in his 20s, was found at the scene just after 1am.
His condition is unknown.
Detective Chief Inspector Jane Corrigan of Westminster Police told the Times: “I think a lot of people think two things about carrying knives and being stabbed.
“Either ‘I’ll get stabbed or die or I’ll win the fight.’ They forget it’s not just being stabbed and being patched up in hospital, they could end up with serious long term injuries that will affect their lives.”
Seeking to reassure residents after the apparent flare up of gang tensions in recent days, she added: “The majority of the incidents involving young people in the borough aren’t being linked to gangs.
“But we understand that within the community it’s traumatic for people to see lots of blue lights and for young people to be involved in these incidents, and of course it’s still matter of concern if they are adults.”
The incident came on the same day a 19-year-old boy was stabbed in the eye in Ladbroke Grove which is being linked to a double stabbing in Harrow Road, at the junction of Third Avenue, Queen’s Park, two days earlier.
She said police are also investigating a stabbing in Ashmore Road, Queen’s Park on Monday, and another knife attack in Marylebone on Sunday.
Another knife attack victim who lives in Haringey attended St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, with stab wounds on the same day.
But he refused to tell police where he was attacked.
In a further unrelated incident also on Sunday, an 18-year-old man was stabbed at Wembley Stadium train station at 10.53pm.
He is currently in a stable condition and a 17-year-old boy from Neasden was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and bailed.
DCI Corrigan said: “If young people feel tension is high then they need to know they can talk to us about it.
“It’s important for us that we’re there to help them do that.”.
Cllr James Denselow, Brent Council cabinet member for safer communities, said crime has fallen 22 per cent in Brent in past year, adding: “As with the rest of the capital there is a problem with a minority of young people who think it is acceptable to resolve their disputes through gangs or violence.
“Our Safer Brent Partnership has a gang strategy, overseen by the multi agency Borough Gang Delivery Group, who work together to target gang-related offending.
“However, it is not just up to the police and local and national agencies to solve these issues. It is a job for all of us. Mums, dads, neighbours, faith and other community leaders need to work together to help prevent these terrible crimes by discussing the causes of violence with young people and tackling it together. There is simply no good reason for young people, or anyone else, to go out armed with knives or other weapons.”
For help and advice on spotting the signs of gang association visit brent.gov.uk/gangs.
Any witnesses or with information should call polcie on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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