Families flee park in horror after man stabbed to death in daylight attack in Camden

Locals have shared their concerns about safety near a London park after a man was fatally stabbed yesterday.

Police swarmed Camden Gardens yesterday afternoon after a 44-year-old man was stabbed and later died from his injuries.

The incident took place at about 3.30pm with families and dog walkers in the park. No arrests have been made as homicide officers hunt for the attacker. 

Locals said the stabbing took place near a makeshift shelter set up by homeless people who have moved into the gardens. A police cordon remains around the green where medical equipment used to help the stabbed man is strewn across the ground. 

Witnesses told Metro how families ran from the ‘horrific’ scene.

Mark Hanley, a school handyman with a young daughter, told Metro: ‘There were police everywhere, loads of them. There have been problems with the park.

‘It used to be nice for walking the dog, but there are now tents and shelters where homeless people are staying. It’s become a bit of a no-go zone, which is such a shame.

‘The council really need to do something about it. I don’t want my daughter going near it, it’s such a shame. It’s a horrific thing to happen.’

Metro has contacted Camden Council for a statement.

Police tape is still surrounding the park as detectives trawl nearby CCTV and forensics officers scour the area for clues.

Eva Kovacs, 31, a mother of three, said: ‘I heard shouting, looked out of my window and saw families running away from the park. There were police going in, and one said, ‘Someone had been stabbed.’

‘When we heard it was a murder, we were very shocked because it was the middle of the day and there were a lot of people around.’

Eva said the park is a ‘magnet’ for crime, with people going in and out of the tents ‘all the time’.

She added: ‘We know the homeless people need somewhere to go, but this situation is very serious.’

A third local total Metro: ‘Enough is enough, we have complained about the noise and problems in the park, which we cannot go in because of anti-social behaviour. Now that there has been a murder, the council need to act.’

A police statement said: ‘Met officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service (LAS) who treated a 44-year-old man for stab wounds before taking him to hospital.

‘Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he sadly died.’

Borough Commander Jason Sewart, who leads policing in Camden, has said: ‘My team are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to this man’s tragic death in Camden Gardens.

‘Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends at this very difficult time. They continue to be supported by specialist officers.

‘A crime scene remains in place and residents can expect to see increased patrols in the local area as we carry out enquiries.

‘We urge anyone in or around Camden Gardens to look at any CCTV camera footage and share anything that may be of use with police.

‘This was an isolated incident and we do not believe there to be any threat to the wider public.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.