Knife attack follows incident in Elm Park – although stabbings are not thought to be linked
A man is in a critical condition after being stabbed in Rainham, east London, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers were called to Cherry Tree Lane at approximately 5:30am following reports of a serious assault. Emergency services rushed to the scene and found the victim with multiple stab wounds. He was immediately taken to hospital, where he remains in a life-threatening condition.
A police cordon has been established around the area as detectives continue their investigation. So far, no arrests have been made, and officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Ongoing investigation
A spokesperson for the Met Police said:
“Police were called at 5:27am on Saturday, March 29, to Cherry Tree Lane in Rainham following reports of a serious assault. The victim was taken to hospital with stab wounds where he remains in a critical condition. Officers remain at the scene, and a cordon is in place. No arrests have been made at this stage.”
The incident has sparked renewed concerns over knife crime in east London, with this latest attack occurring just a mile from Elm Park – where a violent gang of youths carried out a stabbing inside a primary school hall last weekend.
Despite the close proximity, police have stressed that there is no evidence to suggest a link between the two incidents.
Community concerns over knife crime
Residents of Rainham and Elm Park have expressed growing fears over the rise in knife-related violence in their neighbourhoods. A local shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous, told The London Standard:
“It’s getting worse around here. You hear about stabbings all the time, and now it’s happening right on our doorstep. People are scared to go out at night.”
Others took to social media to voice their concerns, with one user posting:
“Another stabbing in Rainham? This is beyond worrying. When will something be done to stop this madness?”
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Local councillors have also called for urgent action to tackle the rising tide of violent crime. Councillor Rachel Stevens, who represents Rainham and Wennington, said:
“It is deeply concerning to hear of yet another stabbing in our community. My thoughts are with the victim and their family at this difficult time. We need to work closely with police, community groups, and local organisations to ensure that young people are steered away from violence before it escalates further.”
Knife crime in London
The Rainham stabbing adds to the growing number of knife-related incidents across the capital. According to recent figures from the Metropolitan Police, knife crime in London has increased by 16% over the past year, with over 14,000 recorded offences.
Despite numerous initiatives to combat the issue, including increased stop-and-search operations and tougher sentencing for those caught carrying weapons, many believe more needs to be done at a community level.
Patrick Green, CEO of anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust, told The London Standard:
“Knife crime continues to devastate families and communities. It is vital that we focus on prevention, education, and providing young people with positive opportunities to steer them away from violence. We cannot allow stabbings to become the norm in our society.”
Appeal for information
Detectives are urging anyone who may have witnessed the attack or has any information to come forward. They are particularly keen to hear from residents in the Cherry Tree Lane area who may have CCTV or dashcam footage from the early hours of Saturday morning.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting reference CAD 1093/29Mar. Alternatively, anonymous reports can be made via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
As the investigation continues, Rainham residents remain on edge, hoping for swift justice for the victim – and for an end to the cycle of knife crime plaguing their community.
