Purley stabbing: London teenager dies in triple stabbing as town centre put on lockdown

Police arrest man on suspicion of attempted murder after attack

The Met Police have said the teenager died at the scene of the stabbing in Croydon on Thursday night (Dr Melissa Jogie/PA Wire)

A teenager has died and a male suspect has been arrested after a triple stabbing forced police to put a south London town centre on lockdown, according to local reports.

The man, believed to be in his late teens, died after being attacked on Brighton Road, Croydon, on Thursday night, police said.

Emergency services, including London’s air ambulance, were called to the scene just after 9pm to reports of a stabbing.

“Despite their efforts, a male, aged in his late teens, died at the scene at 21.50pm,” the Metropolitan Police said.

Two other males, both believed to be in their late teens, were also found wounded nearby and have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Scotland Yard said one of those men, who was found with a slash wound close to Purley Railway Station, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Two other men, whose ages are not known, have been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and remain in custody at south London police stations.

The victim of the fatal stabbing has not been formally identified but his next of kin have been informed.

Police cordons were erected on Purley High Street, Brighton Road and at a nearby train station after the incident.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer.

“London’s air ambulance was also dispatched to the scene.

“We treated two patients at the scene and took them to hospitals as a priority. Sadly a third patient died at the scene."

Numerous crime scenes have been set up in the area, police said, and enquiries are ongoing.

A section 60 order, which allows police officers to stop and search a person without suspicion, has been put in place for the local area until 1.02pm on 12 July.

Detectives have asked anyone with information on the attack to call police via 101 quoting reference Cad 8858/11Jul.

Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.