A witness to the East Street Market stabbings says it feels ‘unsafe to send my kids to school’ after two people were injured and a third killed in the horror incident in Walworth
A witness to the East Street Market stabbings has said he is “terrified” and feels “unsafe” sending their kids to school.
Siraj, 46, who lives locally and did not wish to give her surname, had been walking through East Street Market in Walworth at the time of the incident. The 46-year-old saw police cars and ambulances headed toward the scene of the stabbing and followed them, eventually seeing two injured people on the ground in the market.
“It was terrifying,” he said of the incident, adding that he felt lucky the victims were not his own children. Siraj added the area has “always been safe” but the stabbing has him worried and feeling unsure over the safety of his family.
He added: “I feel unsafe to send my kids to school now.” Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation following a fatal stabbing in Walworth, Southeast London, with police called to the scene at around 10.40am.
Officers attended East Street Market with the London Ambulance Service after a man, believed to be aged in his 60s, was arrested at the scene and taken into police custody. The Met added that three injured people were found, one of whom was the man who died at the scene. Enquiries are underway to confirm his identity and inform his family. Two other people – a man and a woman – were taken to hospital for treatment.
Commander Peter Stevens said: “Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family. My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured. Our investigation is at a very early stage.
“One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although enquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought. The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Enquiries continue, led by dedicated detectives from Specialist Crime. I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police.”
Commander Stevens has since urged those with any information or footage to come forward and get in touch with officers. Israel Tortora, speaking to MyLondon, said they arrived when the cordon was in place when they arrived, and they “couldn’t believe what had happened”. They added: “It’s a very busy market, especially on weekends. I know stabbings happen every day in London but experiencing it close to home is frightening.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed they treated three people at the scene, with two taken to a London major trauma centre. Councillor Natasha Ennin, the Labour councillor for Newington and Cabinet Member for Community Safety said her office is aware of the incident, and called on people not to speculate.
She said in a statement: “We are aware of the incident at East Street market and are supporting the police in their enquiries, staff and local residents. I would strongly urge people not to speculate about what happened and to avoid the area until the police have finished their work on site.”
