A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a 39-year-old man in a quiet residential street in south London.
Emergency services rushed to Maple Close in Mitcham at around 7.30pm on Monday evening after receiving reports of a stabbing. Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service arrived in under a minute and began life-saving treatment on the victim at the scene. He was swiftly transported to a major trauma centre, but sadly died later in hospital, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
The victim’s next of kin have been informed, although formal identification is yet to take place.
Scotland Yard said urgent inquiries were launched immediately following the attack. It is understood the victim and the suspect were known to one another. By Tuesday afternoon, a 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder and is currently being held in custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a deeply distressing incident and our thoughts are very much with the victim’s family and friends. Specially trained officers are providing them with support as they come to terms with this devastating loss.
“Our investigation is progressing at pace, and we are working tirelessly to understand the full circumstances that led to this violent act. Patrols have been increased in the area to reassure the local community, and we encourage anyone with concerns to speak to our officers on the ground.”
The residential street of Maple Close, known for its tranquillity, has been left shaken by the incident. Pastor El Safo, 50, a long-time resident of the area, expressed his shock at the violence.
“It’s a very quiet area. I’ve lived here for over 15 years and have never seen anything like this,” he said. “It’s really unfortunate and has caused a lot of panic. The victim lived on this road with his family. My son was horrified watching the paramedics try to save him just outside our house.”
He added that the man appeared to have been involved in an argument with someone who occasionally visits the neighbourhood. The family, who were returning home later that evening, were escorted through police cordons by officers at the scene.
The London Ambulance Service provided further detail on their response, stating: “We were called at 7.24pm to reports of a stabbing incident in Maple Close, Mitcham. We sent multiple resources, including ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer and London’s Air Ambulance. Our first crew arrived in less than a minute.
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“We treated a man at the scene before taking him as a priority to a major trauma centre by road. Sadly, despite the best efforts of our medics, he could not be saved.”
A large cordon remains in place on Maple Close as forensic teams continue to work at the scene. Police have urged anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious around the time of the incident to come forward.
“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen anything – however insignificant it might seem – to please contact us,” DCI Foxwell added.
Members of the public can call police on 101 quoting reference 6812/28APR. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
As the investigation continues, residents in Mitcham remain shocked and saddened by the tragedy that has rocked their usually peaceful street.
