Man dies after stabbing in east London hours after police officer attacked with knife

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The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation after a man was stabbed to death in east London on Saturday morning,hours after a police officer was attacked with a knife.

Police were called to Kingsland Road in Hackney around 6.30am following reports a man had been wounded.

Officers and emergency workers found a young man believed to be in his 20s suffering from stab injuries. He was taken to a central London hospital in a critical condition and died a few hours later.

It follows a stabbing attack on a police officer outside Ilford railway station in east London on Friday night. The male officer was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said the next-of-kin of the fatal stabbing victim in Hackney had been informed. “A post-mortem examination will be held in due course. Formal identification awaits.”

No arrests have been made but detectives have begun their enquiries into the circumstances. The Homicide and Major Crime Command will be investigating along with police in Hackney.

A crime scene remains in place at Kingsland Road at the junction with Waterson Street.

As part of the police crime scene, temporary road closures are also in effect and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

London has seen a significant rise in violent crime during 2018. Earlier this month, the number of homicides for the year so far surpassed the figure for the whole of 2017.

There have been 14 fatal shootings and 70 fatal stabbings among the 123 homicides in the city so far this year.

Anyone with information on Saturday’s fatal stabbing in Hackney is requested to call police on 101 quoting CAD 1802/24Nov.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously via 0800 555 111 or online via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously