Driver arrested on suspicion of killing man after woman stabbed to death in west London

24 January 2022, 12:56 | Updated: 24 January 2022, 17:46

Woman stabbed to death and man killed after being hit by car in west London

A driver has been arrested on suspicion of killing a man after a woman was stabbed to death on the roadside during rush-hour in West London.

Police launched an "urgent investigation" after being called out to Maida Vale about 9am on Monday.

A woman, aged 43, was found with stab injuries. Officers also found a 41-year-old man who had been struck by a vehicle.

Emergency workers managed to free him but both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Their next of kin have been informed.

Police said enquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances, but at this early stage it is believed the two deceased were known to each other.

A 26-year-old man, the driver of the car, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Police say there is no known link between the driver and the deceased.

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Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “This was a terrible incident that occurred in broad daylight on a busy London street. It also appears that a number of members of the public bravely tried to intervene to stop the attack.

"A man has been arrested in relation to the case; we are not aware of any links between this man and the two deceased. I can also confirm that we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection to this incident.

"A team of detectives are working to establish the circumstances of the incident and I would ask the public to avoid speculating on what may have happened while these initial enquiries take place.

"A number of people have already come forward, but we are still asking for anyone to make contact with us. Any information could be vital in helping us understand why this dreadful incident happened.”

Raad Jayad, who witnessed the incident, told LBC he heard someone calling for help and tried to stop the attacker.

"I saw a woman on the floor, a guy with a knife, I can't believe it," he said.

"When I tried to come close to him… I tried to stop him, he scared me with the knife.

"Somebody came and helped me from the other side and he scared him as well."

The local MP Karen Buck said the incidents were "horrific" and "devastating", and called for anyone with information to come forward to police.

"Horrific events this morning in Elgin Avenue, which will be devastating for family and friends of those killed and also for the local community," she wrote on Twitter.

"Anyone with information please call 101 ref 1496/24th Jan or contact Crimestoppers if anonymous."

A cordon remains in place and a number of forensic tents have been erected in the area.

Police presence at incident in Maida Vale

The Met's Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smithson said earlier: "This morning an incredibly serious incident has unfolded in the Westminster area which has seen two people pronounced dead.

"Our officers are on scene and are working to establish exactly what has happened. As soon as we have more information will keep the public updated but for now we must avoid speculation and allow investigators to do their work.

"What I can say at this time is that the incident is contained and we do not believe there to be any wider threat to the community.

"We have spoken to a number of people already but anyone else who witnessed the incident, or who has information that could help us, is urged to make contact immediately."

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Mulugetta Asseratte, an eyewitness, said: "It is a very terrible incident and for it to happen on a Monday morning. I was coming up from the bakery to Chippenham Road and suddenly heard shouts of 'stop it, stop it' and it was a girl being attacked by a gentleman.

"In any case, I'm a father of four daughters, such things do happen, and I tried to look and even say 'stop it' and it would not."

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 9.02am to reports of an incident on Chippenham Road, W9.

"We sent a number of resources to the scene, including two ambulance crews, two clinical team leaders, an advanced paramedic, two tactical response units, a medic in a car, an incident response officer, and members of our hazardous area response team.

"We also dispatched by road London's Air Ambulance.

"Despite our medics' efforts, two people died at the scene."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 using reference 1496/24jan or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Updates to follow