EXCLUSIVE: At least seven people stabbed over five days in London in week Idris Elba called for kitchen knives to be blunted

At least seven people were stabbed and a woman was left with head injuries after six separate blade attacks across London in the same week actor Idris Elba (top left) called for kitchen knives to be blunted

The horror attacks happened over just five days with two teenagers stabbed on Wednesday, the day the BBC first showed a new documentary "Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis" during which the star called for kitchen knives to have the points rounded to limit the availability of lethal blades.

Ironically, as the show was into its last ten minutes at 9.50pm a 15-year-old boy received a serious injury in a stabbing in Kingston south-west London.

These are the only stabbings Essex News and Investigations is aware of as happening in London that week.

Alarmingly, the Met Police did not proactively release any details about any of the attacks, leading to claims the extent of the country's knife crime epidemic is being played down.

There was a further incident in the same week when a large knife was seen being drawn during a fight between school children in Ilford, but fortunately no one was injured.

The series of attacks began when police were called to Kilburn High Road, near the North London Tavern at the junction of Cavendish Road, on Tuesday (January 28 2025) at 3.20pm after reports that a man had been stabbed.

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene for grievous bodily harm and assaulting a police officer.

At around the same time a large knife was seen being pulled out during a fight between school children in Ilford High Road, near the former Havelock Pub.

A woman who witnessed it said: "I was on the 169 bus and there were these children in the street fighting then one of them pulled out a large knife and it looked like he stabbed someone in the leg.

"You read about this sort of stuff all the time, but to see it was quite shocking."

A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed no stabbing actually happened.

She said: "Police were called to a report of a person with a knife on High Road, Ilford at 3:21pm on Tuesday, January 28 (2025).

“Officers attended and swiftly arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

“No injuries or further incidents were reported.”

Just over two hours later in Acton High Street, west London, police were called at 5.30pm to reports of another stabbing.

The Met Police said two boys, 14 and 15, were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

Their injuries were later confirmed as non-life threatening.

The following day, Wednesday, January 29 (2025), an 18-year-old man was stabbed, receiving several wounds, in High Street, East Ham, east London at around 1pm.

Police and paramedics were called and the man was taken to hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

Two men were later arrested and a crime scene (above from Facebook) was is in place.

Nearly nine hours later the same day a 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital after a stabbing in Kingston, south-west London.

It happened in New Road near Kings Road just before 9.50pm.

The boy was taken to hospital where his injuries were thought to be potentially life changing.

A force spokesperson said: "Police were called to reports of a stabbing in New Road, Kingston upon Thames on Wednesday 29 January at 9.51pm.

"Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service.

"One 15-year-old boy was treated for stab wounds at the scene before being taken to hospital. His injuries are thought to be potentially life changing.

"Enquiries into the circumstances continue."

The following day, Thursday, January 30, a 17-year-old boy was left in a critical condition after a stabbing in south London.

Met Police Officers rushed to Green Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, after being called at 11.30am.

Emergency responders found the boy suffering serious stab wounds. He was rushed him to hospital, where he was in a critical condition, but the injuries were later declared non life threatening.

No arrests were made.

On Saturday, February 1, a 28-year-old woman and 24-year-old man were rushed to hospital following a stabbing in High Street, Ruislip, west London.

The man was found with stab injuries, while the woman suffered head injuries at about 3:30am.

They were later discharged from hospital with the injuries deemed non life-threatening.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm following the incident.

The force said he was known to the victims.

The Met Police did not proactively release details about any of the stabbings on its official news feed on its website or on any of its X accounts.

However, it provided statements in response to enquiries from the media when they were requested.

The Met also did not proactively release details of three non-fatal stabbings in the first week of the New Year.

A force spokesperson said: "In terms of what goes out proactively, it depends on numerous factors – such as appeals, but also the amount of media interest we get."

Knife attack survivor Stuart Newton, based in Liverpool, who nearly died after being stabbed 12 times in 2019, said: "There are stabbings every single day in our country now and many go unreported - many because the victim who is lucky enough to actually survive doesn't present themselves at hospital.

"The Government needs to admit how big the problem is and actually change laws around carrying bladed articles."