Suspected gang feuds in the Queen’s Park area have resulted in six stabbings in just three days over the weekend.
In one knife attack a 19-year-old was stabbed in the eye as violence between rivals escalates on the streets.
Police have increased their stop-and-search powers in an effort to curb the warfare which started with a double stabbing in Harrow Road on Friday.
In the first attack a 20-year-old was left fighting for his life after he stabbed at the junction of Third Avenue at 7.30pm.
His condition is currently critical but stable.
A 17-year-old boy was also knifed but made his own way to hospital where he was treated and discharged.
He was subsequently arrested in connection with stabbing the 20-year-old man and has been bailed to return to a police station today (Thursday).
On Sunday a 19-year-old was knifed in the eye in nearby Ladbroke Grove which police are linking to the double stabbing.
The victim remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
On the same day a stabbing took place in Marylebone and a young man from Haringey attended St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington with knife wounds.
The following day another man was knifed in Ashmore Road, Queen’s Park.
Police are not linking the last two stabbings but have activated Section 60 stop-and-search powers in an effort to keep calm in the area.
On Tuesday, Westminster Police held a meeting with Karen Buck, Labour MP for Westminster North, to discuss the recent surge of youth-related violence in the borough.
Ms Buck said: “This has been a very worrying surge in serious violence. Whilst I am confident that the police and council are responding with due seriousness, the pressure on police resources and the threat to youth and other intervention services are genuine concerns in the medium to longer term.”
Cllr Nickie Aiken, Westminster Council cabinet member for public protection, said: “We are working closely with the police and the local community to tackle this issue. Public safety is always our first priority and we will continue to monitor the situation.”
Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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