Murder investigation after stabbing in London park – The Irish News

A murder investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in an east London park.

Police were called at 7.38pm on Saturday to reports of a fight in Plashet Park, Newham.

A man, believed to be in his 20s, was found with stab wounds and died at the scene despite officers giving him first aid, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police believe they know who the man is and inquiries are being made to identify him and inform his family.

A teenager with stab wounds and another with head injuries were also found at the scene, the force said.

Both were taken to hospital and neither is in a life-threatening condition, he added.

No arrests have been made.

Superintendent Dion Brown, one of the senior officers in charge of Newham Police, said: “I know this tragic and violent loss of life will cause great distress in the local community.

“I share their sadness and concern and send my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the young man who was killed.

“A murder investigation has been launched and continues apace this morning with skilled detectives supported by local officers and specialists from across the Met.

“This investigation will be exceptionally thorough and forensic in nature.

“I would urge witnesses or anyone with information to share what they know with the police.

“We are determined to work with the local community to establish what happened and bring to justice whoever was responsible for this senseless and brutal act of violence.

“Local people will see extra officers working in the area today and in the coming days. If you have any concerns, please talk to them. They are there to support you and your community.”

A police tent was set up near a basketball court in Plashet Park, which a local resident said was regularly busy with “hot-headed guys” arguing loudly.

Mother-of-six Barbara Minley, 50, lives in a house overlooking the park and said she can no longer send her two children, aged eight and 12, to play there because of the problems .

Instead, they go to other parks “because of all these incidents.”

“I used to send my kids to (Plashet Park) and look out the window and say, ‘Oh, I’m fine, I’m there,'” added the 50-year-old.

She said the area had “changed a lot” in the more than 20 years she had lived there and that problems had escalated in the 2000s, which she put down to “the territory – who is this? Who is greater than that?”

She called for more community police and CCTV cameras and told the PA news agency: “You have small children and you are afraid to send your child to the park. It’s too much, especially in basketball – there’s quite a lot going on in this park.

“It’s stupid arguments and stuff like that. Another murder happened (nearby) two years ago, some stabbings.

“They’re too much of a catchy guy – sometimes there’s a group of them, I don’t know what kind of thing it is, if it’s a gang thing.

“Loud shouting, shouting… sometimes I’m looking out my window like, ‘What the hell is going on?’

“I have two children (I live here); the other four are all adults and thank god they don’t live in this area – it’s just these two that I’m worried about now.

“It’s a beautiful park, but people just don’t want to give other people a chance to enjoy it.”

– Anyone with information or footage is asked to call 101 quoting reference 6541/27jul or contact Crimestoppers to remain anonymous.