Four people in hospital after reports of stabbing in south-east London

Seven people arrested following ‘altercation’ on Bromley High Street on Thursday afternoon

Seven people have been arrested after four men were stabbed in south-east London , the Metropolitan police said.

Officers were called to reports of “an altercation” on Bromley High Street at 2.15pm and found four men with stab wounds, the force added.

In a statement, it said: “Officers attended the scene alongside the London ambulance service and London’s air ambulance and found four men with stab wounds. Three of them were taken to hospital where they are receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. One is in critical condition.

“Seven men were arrested and they all remain in custody. Police inquiries continue and there is not believed to be any wider threat to the public.”

A cordon was in place at the scene on Thursday, with police, as well as community support officers, standing around the perimeter. Forensics officers dressed in blue overalls and a crime scene photographer were coming and going from a branch of KFC, where locals said the incident occurred, and there were evidence markers visible on the floor.

Abandoned food could still be seen on the tables as evening drew in, suggestive of the haste in which people left the restaurant amid the incident. “I heard a really loud bang and people running from KFC,” said George Ioannou, who was working in Antonio’s Male Grooming next door to the KFC.

“An elderly woman ran into the shop and I had to lock the door to shelter her until it calmed down. She was crying. About five minutes later, we heard the sirens.” Other shop workers nearby said the incident was quick and that it was over in moments.

The KFC has an alleyway down one side – along which people ran as they passed the male grooming shop – and faces on to Bromley’s High Street. Part of the latter was still closed to the public on Thursday evening. It is a busy thoroughfare, with a large shopping centre at one end and a train station taking commuters between Kent, south-east London and the capital’s centre at the other. Those and the parade of shops lining the high street draw large numbers of people from the surrounding area. About 15 bus routes were diverted, including the 61, 208 and 119.

The London ambulance service said ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast-response car, an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic and London’s air ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

Four patients were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, the service added.

The Bromley and Biggin Hill MP Peter Fortune said: “I am aware of the incident on Bromley High Street this afternoon and I know that residents will have safety concerns. The police are in attendance and have made a number of arrests. I will remain in close contact with the police as they continue to investigate this incident.”

A picture shared on social media on Thursday afternoon appeared to show a section of Bromley High Street cordoned off, with an emergency vehicle on site. The Met asked anyone with information to contact the police on 101.