Locals living near to a park in east London where a man was stabbed to death have said they are now ‘scared’ to send their children there.
The Metropolitan Police were called to Plashet Park in east London at 7.38pm on Saturday following reports that a fight had broke out.
In the park they found a young man with stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of officers and paramedic staff, the man tragically died at the scene.
Officers believe they know the identity of the victim, whom they understand to be 20-years-old. Enquiries are ongoing to identify and inform his family.
Two teenage males were also found in the park, one had stab injuries and the other had sustained head injuries. They were taken to hospital but neither injuries are life-threatening.
Emergency vehicles outside Plashet Park in east London yesterday. Police were called to the park at 7.38pm on Saturday where they found a young man with stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of officers and paramedic staff, the man tragically died at the scene
Crime officers gathering evidence at Plashet Park today. Two teenage males were also found in the park, one had stab injuries and the other had sustained head injuries. They were taken to hospital but neither injuries are life-threatening
A police tent erected in Plashet Park. Superintendent Dion Brown one of the senior officers responsible for policing Newham, said: ‘I know this tragic and violent loss of life will cause a good deal of upset among the local community’
A police tent has since been erected beside a basketball court in the park. As of writing no arrests have been made.
One local resident has claimed the park is regularly occupied with ‘hot-head boys’ who get into loud arguments.
Mother-of-six Barbara Minley, 50, lives in a house overlooking the park and said she can no longer send two of her children, aged eight and 12, to play there because of the trouble.
Instead, they go to other parks ‘because of all these incidents’.
The 50-year-old added: ‘I used to be able to send my kids to (Plashet Park) and look out the window and say “Oh, they’re fine, they’re there”.’
Ms Minley said the area has ‘changed a lot’ in the more than 20 years she has lived there and that trouble escalated in the 2000s, which she put down to ‘turf – who is this one? Who is bigger than that one?’
She called for more community police officers and CCTV cameras, to tackle the violence in the area.
The mother said: ‘You have young kids and you’re scared to send your kid to the park. It’s too much, especially in the basketball bit – there is quite a lot of things that happen in this park.
‘It’s stupid arguments and stuff like that. Another murder happened (nearby) two years ago, some stabbing.
‘It’s too much hot-head boys – sometimes it’s a group of them, I don’t know what kind of thing it is, if it’s a gang thing.
A crime scene officer at Plashet Park. One local resident has claimed the park is regularly occupied with ‘hot-head boys’ who get into loud arguments
A police tent has since been erected beside a basketball court in the park. As of writing no arrests have been made
‘Loud arguments, shouting… sometimes I look out of my window like “What the hell is going on?”
‘I’ve got two kids (living here); the other four are all grown-up and thank God they don’t live in this area – it’s just these two now that I’m worried about.
‘It’s a beautiful park, but people just don’t want to give other people a chance to enjoy it.’
Superintendent Dion Brown one of the senior officers responsible for policing Newham, said: ‘I know this tragic and violent loss of life will cause a good deal of upset among the local community.
‘I share their sadness and their concern, and I send my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the young man who was killed.
‘A murder investigation has been launched and continues at pace this morning, with skilled detectives supported by local officers and specialists from across the Met. This investigation will be exceptionally thorough and forensic in its nature.
‘I urge any witnesses or anyone who has information to share what they know with police.
‘We are determined to work with the local community to establish what happened and to bring to justice whoever was responsible for this senseless and brutal act of violence.
‘Local people will see additional officers working in the area today and in the coming days. If you have any concerns, please do speak with them. They are there to support you and your community.’
There has been no arrest at this early stage. Anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, are asked to call 101, quoting reference 6541/27jul. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.
