Shoppers flee after a man is killed in triple stabbing attack in Harrow town centre

Christmas shoppers have been left horrified after a young man was killed in a triple stabbing attack that left the high street looking like a ‘war-zone’ according to witnesses.

Two gangs armed with weapons clashed near Debenhams in Harrow town centre last night as shops shuttered up from a busy trading day ahead of Christmas.

Police found a man in his twenties suffering stab injuries at around 7.15pm in St Anns Road.

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident – two other victims, believed to be in their late teens, also suffered knife injuries.

They are both in hospital receiving treatment, although their condition is not yet known.

The attack follows just days after schoolboy Kayjon Lubin, 15, was stabbed to death by a gang who chased him “like a pack of dogs” in Woodman Street, north Woolwich on Friday.

A 17-year-old boy arrested yesterday on suspicion of Kayjon’s murder remains in police custody.

A resident whose flat overlooks the scene in Harrow said “all hell broke loose” as the area became a “war zone”.

The mother-of-two, 33, said: “They were running and shouting, all hell broke loose. There was swearing and threats. It was very violent. Any bystanders were running away.”

A local source suggested that the fight had been between a gang from Harrow and rivals from Hounslow. He said: “There are two guys who have beef. I think it was over a girl but it was petty. This is a waste of life. They were young.”

A police cordon was in place around the town centre as murder detectives spoke to witnesses. Forensics officers also combed the scene.

A Met spokesman said: “Crime scenes remain in place around the St Anns Road and Station Road area. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.”