A major police investigation is underway after five people were arrested and three men were stabbed during an early hours incident at a south London shopping centre that resulted in one fatality.
Officers were dispatched to Valley Retail Park on Hesterman Way in Croydon following reports of a disturbance at approximately 01:15 GMT on Sunday morning, where they discovered three men suffering from stab wounds.
Among those detained by the Metropolitan Police are two 25-year-old women and a 28-year-old man who have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. The three suspects are being questioned in connection with the death of a 22-year-old man who was transported to hospital but could not be saved.
The victim’s family has been notified of his death.
Two additional stabbing victims, both aged 21, were also treated at the scene. One sustained injuries described by authorities as potentially life-threatening and remains hospitalised under medical supervision. The second man with less severe wounds has been discharged from medical care. Both men have since been arrested on suspicion of affray and the man released from hospital is now in police custody.
Two further women, aged 21 and 22, were also taken into custody on suspicion of affray in connection with the incident. The younger woman has been released on bail pending further enquiries, while the 22-year-old remains detained.
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, the senior investigating officer, addressed the impact on the victim’s relatives, stating: “Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family at his hugely difficult time, we cannot begin to imagine what they are going through.”
The detective acknowledged concerns among local residents, adding: “We understand that this incident will be distressing to the local community. My officers continue to work at pace to unpick the events that unfolded and to apprehend those responsible.”
A cordon remains in place at the retail park as forensic teams continue gathering evidence from the scene. Detectives are piecing together the sequence of events that led to the fatal confrontation in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Metropolitan Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Authorities are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was in the vicinity of the retail park between midnight and 02:00 GMT on Sunday.
