A pizza shop manager has described watching on as a young man wielding a golf club got stabbed in the chest, as a pharmacy worker recounted treating one victim's knife wound.
Saeed Akhtar, 28, of Papa John's in Old Church Road, Chingford, was working behind the counter on Saturday afternoon (March 28) when we witnessed the drama unfold across the street outside Ladbrokes bookmakers.
He told the Guardian: "I saw eight or nine guys trying to fight one guy who was on his own.
"They kept running back and forth across the road.
"They were looking to attack him but he was trying to get away and they were not allowing him.
"After being punched two or three times, he pulled out a knife.
"Clearly everyone could see him holding out this knife.
"The group walked back across the road and down Templeton Avenue.
"Then three guys ran across the road.
"One was carrying a golf club.
"As the guy hit him with the golf club, the guy stabbed him in the chest."
Scene where fight broke out between group of youths and teenager was stabbed
Mr Akhtar said the knifeman ran towards The Ridgeway, while the group of men got into two cars and headed towards Chingford Mount Road.
One of the stab victims took refuge in Boots after a friend desperately called out for help.
Pharmacist Khalid Ismail administered first aid.
The 27-year-old, said: "Someone came in screaming 'is there anyone that can help? A doctor or a nurse? Someone has been stabbed'.
"A young man then walked in and I could see blood on his white t-shirt.
"I sat him down on a chair and wrapped a bandage around the wound on his chest.
"He looked frightened, and hot and sweaty.
"He said he felt dizzy but would not tell me what happened.
"It was horrifying, I've never seen this happen before and I thought the attacker was still on the loose."
Police and London's Ambulance Service (LAS) arrived at the scene shortly after 5.20pm.
Paramedics treated the 17-year-old man for a single wound to his stomach and took him to hospital as a priority.
A cordon was set up outside of Papa John's, Ladbrokes and Boots.
Police have said two young men were stabbed and is treating both incidents as one investigation.
A spokeswoman, said: "Police have a number of active leads they are pursuing but no arrests have been made and enquires are ongoing."
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting CAD 6945/28March.
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