Man stabbed to death near north London tube station leads police to launch capital's 74th murder investigation of the year

A man was stabbed to death in north London, prompting Scotland Yard to launch its 74th murder investigation in the capital this year.

Police and paramedics found the "seriously injured man" near Turnpike Lane tube station. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers cordoned streets in the area as the man is believed to have been stabbed nearby.

A formal identification and post-mortem will take place later today.

London's Metropolitan Police described the victim as a "man in his 30s".

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said of the stabbing in a statement: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim of the fatal stabbing in Haringey last night.

“I am in touch with the local MP and local authority leaders and remain in close contact with the Met Police.

“Tomorrow morning I will meet with the Home Secretary to discuss how we address the scourge of serious violence across Britain. Here in London, the Met's Violent Crime Task Force, set up with City Hall funding, is arresting criminals and taking knives off our streets every day.

"The police must be properly funded now to prevent more lives being lost."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Of the 74 murder investigations launched by the force this year, at least 46 are thought to have involved knives, and 10 involved firearms.

In April London's murder rate overtook New York's for the first time ever after a spate of violence attacks in the capital.

The London Assembly launched an urgent investigation last month into London's recent increase in violent crime.

A new crime-prevention strategy was also implemented in March which proposed a “secure school” for young offenders and an overhaul of failing probation services in order to combat London's growing knife-crime problem.