Lawless London now a 'horror movie' after sickening stabbing rampage in night of carnage

At least three people have been critically injured after separate knife attacks at south London train stations - with Nimco Ali, the best friend of Boris Johnson's wife Carrie, warning the capital was now "basically a horror movie".

A 19-year-old in custody on suspicion of attempted murder after another man was stabbed at Beckenham Junction and left with life-threatening injuries.

Hours later, footage circulating on social media showed a large police presence at Kennington tube station, with police confirming at least two people had been stabbed, one of them apparently after trying to help another individual who was being attacked. There is no suggestion the incidents are connected.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it received reports of two men fighting while boarding a train bound for Beckenham Junction at Shortlands railway station in Bromley shortly before 4pm yesterday.

Shocking clips shared online showed a man wearing a black hooded jacket, black trousers and a face mask holding a large blade, while onlookers could be heard telling him to stop.

Posting on X just after midnight, freelance journalist Jonathan Kanengoni said: "Footage from the scene at Kennington Tube Station’ where police continue enquiries following reports of a ‘stabbing’ - a resident in the area reports seeing a victim “stretchered out into an ambulance” following the alleged incident."

Nimco Ali, a friend of Boris Johnson's wife Carrie, tweeted footage of the attack on the Beckenham Junction train showing a man brandishing a knife and attacking another individual on the floor.

She commented: "This City is basically a horror movie now."

The Beckenham attack resulted in a man in his 20s being taken to hospital, where he is in a critical but stable condition.

Superintendent Darren Malpas said: “We understand the concerns of the public following this incident and our detectives have been working tirelessly to investigate. I hope this arrest will bring some reassurance to those on the rail network.

“High-visibility patrols will continue in the area and across the network as a visible reassurance to the travelling public.

Train services in the area were disrupted until around 6.30pm as police dealt with the incident.

A Southeastern Trains spokesperson said: "We are aware of a serious incident on board one of our services this afternoon. We are urgently assisting the British Transport Police and would urge anyone with any information to contact them immediately.

"All of our trains are fitted with CCTV and we will be providing this footage to the British Transport Police to assist with their enquiries.

"We also have an integrated safeguarding team, comprised of Southeastern, BTP and Network Rail colleagues and we are already working together to find those responsible."

In a separate statement, another BTP spokesperson said officers received reports of a member of the public being stabbed on the northbound platform of Kennington station at 10.37PM last night.

Officers attended alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police. However, the suspect had left the area.

Two people were injured, one the intended victim, who was stabbed, and another person who was slashed with a knife.

The London Ambulance Service also attended and the injured victims were taken to hospital, where they remain in a critical but stable condition.

The incident is not believed to be linked to a stabbing at Beckenham Junction earlier on the same day.

Detectives are conducting extensive enquiries and urge anyone with information to come forward. No arrests have been made.

SIO Detective Inspector Paul Attwell said: “We understand that people will be worried by this senseless attack.

"Our teams have been working throughout the night, aided by CCTV footage, forensics and detailed accounts from witnesses at the scene.

"We believe that one of the victims was injured after bravely stepping in to try to prevent the attack."

Anyone with information is being asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 728 of 27 March.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Glynn Barton, TfL's Chief Operating Officer, said: “Last night, our staff assisted the emergency services following an incident at Kennington station. The station is now open and services are running normally.

"The safety of all our customers is always our top priority and we continue to assist the British Transport Police with their investigation.”