London stabbing murders: 18-year-old arrested on suspicion of killing two young men on same night in Camden
Police confirm deaths of Abdikarim Hassan, 17, and Sadiq Aadam, 20
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An 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murdering two young men who were stabbed to death within two hours of each other in north London.
Police confirmed the deaths of Abdikarim Hassan, 17, and Sadiq Aadam, 20, in Camden on Tuesday evening.
The suspect was also arrested on one count of grievous bodily harm after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed outside a block of flats. He remains in hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Mr Hassan died in front of his mother after being stabbed in the chest at around 8.30pm. Mr Aadam died a short time later, with witnesses saying he had been slashed with a samurai sword.
Despite being given first aid by police, both men died at the scene of the stabbings.
Police say Mr Aadam and a friend were chased by a group of four men along an alleyway before the attack. The friend was unharmed.
Paul Considine, the detective chief inspector leading the investigation, said: "What is clear is that there were three violent attacks, by a group of men armed with knives, within about two hours of each other and within about a mile of each other.
"I need the public's help to establish the exact circumstances in which two young men were murdered and another seriously injured, and to identify the people responsible.
"Today, I am asking local residents or those people who were out in the area that night to think back - and if they saw something that may help us, please get in contact. I can understand why some people may be reluctant or nervous about coming forward but we need your help. We will treat your information in the strictest of confidence."
Mr Aadam is reportedly the third member of his family to die in a knife attack in five years. Mohamed Aadam, his brother, was murdered in the middle of the day in Camden Town in September, weeks before his 21st birthday, The Camden New Journal reported.
Their cousin, Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as “Lefty”, was murdered in June 2013 aged 20.
Mr Abdullahi’s father and the Aadam brothers’ uncle, Aydarus Ahmed, has campaigned to end knife violence since his son’s death.
"The frequency with which young men are prepared to take each others' lives is shocking," Mr Considine said. "We all have a part to play in preventing this. If you know something about these murders then please do your part in helping us with this investigation.
"One line of enquiry that we are urgently pursuing is that a blue van was seen in the area of the two murders. If you saw a vehicle that caused you concern due to how it was being driven or the people inside it then please get in touch with us."
London has seen large rises in knife crime since then. Recorded incidents rose by 23 per cent in the capital during the 12-month period to the end of September last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigations team on 020 8345 3734, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on on 0800 555 111.