A MAN stabbed to death in London yesterday was the fifth person killed in the capital in just eight days. Lawless London’s murder rate last year was the highest for a decade and the bloodshed on the capital’s streets has continued in 2019, with 16 murder inquiries launched by cops. 4 A teenager died after he was stabbed by a gang riding bikes in Wood Green, North London, on Friday night 4 There have been five killings in the last eight days in London Police were called yesterday afternoon to reports of a stabbing in Bethnal Green, in East London. A man, thought to be in his mid-20s or early 30s, was found with stab wounds in Tower Hamlets. Despite the efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was the fifth man killed in the capital in eight days. On Friday night a 19-year-old was fatally shot and stabbed by a gang wielding knives, guns and a samurai sword in front of children at a hair salon in Wood Green, in North London. FIFTH KILLING IN EIGHT DAYS The night before, Glendon Spence, 23, was fatally stabbed at a youth club in Brixton, in South London. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Bromley Youth Court yesterday charged with murder. Glendon had been playing table tennis at Marcus Lipton youth centre, which was the venue for a police anti-knife crime summit last year, when he was attacked. Last Monday night Bright Akinleye, 22, was stabbed in a street near Euston station before staggering into a hotel lobby where he collapsed and died. The following day 69-year-old Brian Wieland died in a fire at a house in Chingford, East London. A woman, 51, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. BLOODSHED CONTINUES Knife crime and shootings are on the rise fuelled by gang rivalry and disputes over drug markets. Last year's homicide rate in the capital was the highest in a decade, with 132 violent deaths in London. The Mayor of London warned it could take a "decade" to turn the tide of violent crime. This year got off to a bloody start when mum-of-one Charlotte Huggins, 33, was knifed to death at her home in Camberwell, South East London on New Year’s Day. Just hours later security guard Tudor Simionov, 33, was stabbed outside a VIP sex party in Park Lane, Mayfair. He was attacked as he tried to stop gatecrashers storming into the private bash. Earlier this month doting dad-of-one Dennis Anderson, 39, was fatally slashed across the neck outside an off-licence in East Dulwich in a row about cigarettes on February 10. Five days earlier Lajean Richards, 19, was stabbed to death outside his family home – less than a five-minute walk from Prince George’s £17,000-a-year Thomas’s School in Battersea. Teens Nedim Bilgin, 17, and Jaden Moodie, 14, have also been murdered in the capital this year. Jaden was fatally stabbed after being knocked off a moped in Leyton, East London, on January 8, while Nedim was knifed to death in Islington, North London after being chased down a busy street on January 29. BATTLE TO CONTROL DRUGS MARKET Police have pointed to links between violence and the brutal county lines drug trade, where urban dealers force children and other vulnerable people to take drugs to customers in more rural areas. In London itself, gang warfare is increasingly being driven by a ruthless battle to control the drugs market in a move away from “postcode wars”. In total there are estimated to be around 250 gangs in London involving around 4,500 people. MOST READ IN NEWS 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' Middle class cocaine users have come under fire for helping to fuel this increasingly violent battle in Lawless London. Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said the growing demand from well-off users for the Class A drug was leading to a surge in violent gang crime. Drill music, where rappers taunt rivals with lyrics laced with violence and threats, and the role of social media in escalating disputes have also come under the microscope, as have cuts to youth services and the police. 4 Glendon Spence was stabbed in the groin and died outside the Marcus Lipton Youth Club in Brixton, south London Credit: MET POLICE 4 Bright Akinleye, 22, was stabbed in the leg during a row at a house party in Starcross Street, Euston, before staggering to The Wesley hotel and collapsing We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>He said: "I know that there were a lot of people that witnessed at least part of this incident and I know that many of those people will be afraid to come forward and speak with police. I urge those people to make use of the anonymous services available to enable my officers to remove these violent criminals from the area where you live, work or socialise."<doc-sep>
A fifth murder investigation has been launched in just eight days following a fatal stabbing in East London. Police say a man in his mid-twenties or early thirties was found with multiple wounds following reports of a fight in Bethnal Green yesterday (Monday, February 25). The victim, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. He is the fifth man to be killed in the capital in just eight days; four of the victims have been stabbed. The latest murder probe is the sixteenth inquiry to be launched by the Met Police this year. Investigations (Image: Met Police) Bright Akinleye, 22, was fatally stabbed in a street near Euston station before staggering into a hotel lobby where he collapsed and died on February 18. The following day, 69-year-old Brian Wieland, 69, died in a fire at a house in Chingford, East London. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Glendon Spence, 23, was fatally stabbed at a youth club in Brixton, South London, last Thursday (February 21). A teenager has since been charged with murder. And a 19-year-old, who has not been formally identified, was fatally shot and stabbed in Wood Green, North London, over the weekend. Latest murder probe Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the latest killing - no arrests have been made. Police were called by paramedics at 2.35pm on Monday to an address in Globe Road following reports of a fight "in progress." A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man, thought to be aged in his mid-20s or early 30s, was discovered suffering from stab wounds. "Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. "At this early stage there have been no arrests. "A crime scene is in place and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing. "Officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed."