Kilburn murder: Young man was 'left to bleed to death after being ambushed by gang'

Murder: Watling Gardens
Matt Watts
Matt Watts6 November 2015
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A young man was stabbed and left to bleed to death after being ambushed on a north London housing estate in a suspected postcode gang attack.

The victim, in his early 20s, staggered around 50 yards before collapsing on a grass verge near garages at the foot of a towerblock in Kilburn. Witnesses today said a man in a white car pulled up and knifed the victim, before jumping back into the passenger seat and speeding away.

The man was spotted by a dog walker who ran to the Watling Gardens estate office in Shoot Up Hill to raise the alarm.

A passing nurse joined in a desperate battle to save his life before paramedics arrived at 2.45pm yesterday. He was pronounced dead 20 minutes later.

The victim, who was black, is not believed to have lived on the estate. He has yet to be formally identified.

Witnesses said they feared the attack was gang-related and the man was attacked for venturing onto rival territory.

One resident told the Standard: “The guy was attacked at the back of some garages. There was blood trail going past one of the blocks of flats and he was found on the grass.

“We don’t know how long he had been lying there, The woman who found him and rushed to the estate office saying ‘can you help? Someone’s been stabbed and I think he’s dying’.”

“There was nurse passing who ran to help. I think she works at the Royal Free. She was trying to help him and give him first aid but it was too late.”

The estate, which has more than 160 flats across a number of tower blocks, was cordoned off last night as forensic and police teams launched a murder investigation.

Only residents were allowed on to the estate, and once inside their homes were not allowed to leave.

Residents spoke at their shock at the murder.

Patricia Buckley, 78, said: “It’s a pretty horrible thing to happen on your doorstep. The estate isn’t that bad.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 2.23pm on Thursday, to Watling Gardens in Kilburn following reports a man suffering from a stab injury.

“The man, believed to be aged in his early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene at 3.06pm.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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