Two knifemen are on the loose and three people are in hospital fighting for their lives after multiple stabbings on public transport in London.
The attacks at Beckenham Junction and Kennington Underground stations on Wednesday came as Sadiq Khan said he was cracking down on crime – ahead of his fight for a third consecutive spell in City Hall.
Terrifying footage shared on social media showed a man wielding a large knife on board a Southwestern train shortly before 4pm as he stood over another man as horrified passengers looked on – before the attacker fled the scene.
And shortly after 10.30pm in Kennington, south London, emergency services were called to the Tube station after receiving reports of passengers being stabbed on the station platform – including one who sought to step in to help.
The British Transport Police (BTP) said it does not believe the incidents, which happened six hours and eight miles apart, are linked.
However, no arrests have been made in either case. A man was taken to hospital after the Beckenham Junction incident with life-threatening injuries, while two victims were transported from Kennington in a ‘critical but stable’ condition.
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Police and other emergency services attend the scene at Kennington station last night
British Transport Police say two people were taken to hospital after the incident on a northbound platform
It is believed one of the victims of the Tube station attack was injured after trying to prevent the incident from happening
British Transport Police officers – including a dog handler – search gardens close to Kennington Underground station after the attack
Kennington Station was cordoned off last night as emergency services attended the scene. It has since re-opened
The attack in Kennington came hours after an incident on board a moving Southeastern train as a man stabbed another man with a large knife (pictured)
The man is seen holding a large blade as he stands over his victim, while terrified passengers beg for him to stop as they call 999
The alleged attacker was then seen walking along the street with a large blade in his hand as he fled the scene
Sadiq Khan – pictured with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday – says he is cracking down on crime as he fights for a third mayoral term
A BTP spokesperson told MailOnline of the Kennington disturbance: ‘At 10.37pm on 27 March 2024, British Transport Police received reports of a member of the public being stabbed on the northbound platform of Kennington station.
‘Officers attended alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police. However, the suspect had left the area.
‘The London Ambulance Service also attended and the injured victims were taken to hospital, where they remain in a critical but stable condition.
‘The incident is not believed to be linked to a stabbing at Beckenham Junction earlier on the same day.
‘Detectives are conducting extensive enquiries and urge anyone with information to come forward. No arrests have been made.’
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Paul Attwell added: ‘We understand that people will be worried by this senseless attack.
‘Our teams have been working throughout the night, aided by CCTV footage, forensics and detailed accounts from witnesses at the scene.
‘We believe that one of the victims was injured after bravely stepping in to try to prevent the attack.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 728 of 27 March. Information can also be submitted to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Passengers had taken to social media to express concern about their safety after being asked to leave the station from their trains.
One wrote: ‘Our southbound Northern line train stopped at Kennington and the driver asked us to get off the train (knowing someone was stabbing people).
‘Why not keep us on the train until the culprit had been detained?’
Another person wrote: ‘I also was on the same train and overheard from medical staff storming in that two people were in real danger.’
In a statement to MailOnline, TfL chief operating officer Glynn Barton said: ‘Last night, our staff assisted the emergency services following an incident at Kennington station. The station is now open and services are running normally.
‘The safety of all our customers is always our top priority and we continue to assist the British Transport Police with their investigation.’
Meanwhile, the search continues for the knifeman who stabbed a man in front of terrified passengers on a train at Beckenham Junction.
Photos show the suspect walking through the streets of London yesterday wearing a mask and armed with a large blade.
One passenger can be heard screaming ‘f****** stop it now’ before calling police to report the incident.
The witness then says: ‘I’m on the train to Beckenham Junction and this man’s stabbing someone on the train.’
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward after the man was seriously injured at Beckenham Junction
Police attend the scene at Beckenham Junction on Wednesday following the stabbing, which left its victim with life-threatening injuries
An air ambulance arriving at the station after the stabbing on Wednesday afternoon
The incident happened at Beckenham Junction (pictured) on Wednesday afternoon
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Pictured: police vehicles at the scene
The British Transport Police said in a statement on Wednesday: ‘Officers are carrying out extensive enquiries to trace the suspect for a stabbing at Beckenham Junction.
‘You will see an enhanced police presence across stations in the area throughout the night and into tomorrow. We do not believe there is any risk to the wider public.’
It added: ‘Detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man was seriously injured at Beckenham Junction today.
‘At around 3.56pm today (27 March), we received reports of two men fighting while entering a train at Shortlands (railway station). A man sustained serious injuries consistent with being stabbed.
‘Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Ambulance Service, and the victim was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
‘Enquiries are ongoing and there have been no arrests so far.
‘British Transport Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 397 of 27/03/2024.
‘Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called today (Wednesday) at 3.58pm to reports of an incident at Beckenham Junction Station.
‘We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, an incident response officer and London’s air ambulance.
‘We treated a man at the scene before taking him to a London major trauma centre.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on the campaign trail ahead of the mayoral elections that he was delivering ‘record investment to keep Londoners safe’.
On a visit to a police station with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on Wednesday, he said: ‘Keeping Londoners safe is my number one priority, being both tough on crime and tough on its complex causes.’
But analysis of crime statistics by the Evening Standard suggests that knife crime has risen significantly in the capital since 2016 – when Mr Khan was first elected – and leapt more than a fifth in the last year alone.
The number of teenagers killed also remains high – with 21 youngsters killed in 2023, up from 14 in 2022. A further 30 were killed in 2021.
However, Conservative rival Susan Hall’s campaign has been set back by a bungled Tory attack ad on Khan’s record on crime, which used footage from New York to claim London was a city full of ‘crime and desperation’ under his rule.
The widely mocked video also claimed, without evidence, that London was being patrolled by ‘squads of ULEZ enforcers…dressed in black, faces covered with masks’.
Senior Tories say they are in despair at the ‘childish’ video, which is said to have been produced by the party’s central command without input from Ms Hall’s team.
