WALTHAM FOREST: Two knife murders within hours (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Two knife murders within hours

9:00pm Friday 11th July 2008 in

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TWO young men have been stabbed to death in Waltham Forest within three hours.

Adnan Patel, 21, was stabbed in Leyton, after being attacked at around 5.30pm yesterday.

The stabbing happened in Stewart Road, following a fight between two groups of men.

Detectives believe Mr Patel then got into a black Ford Focus car and drove to nearby Downsell Road, where he crashed into a parked vehicle.

He was treated by paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering stomach wounds.

Many residents believe the assault was a road-rage incident.

However a man who witnessed the attack from his flat window believes the men were known to each other.

Amos Mak, 36, of Ellingham Road, said: "I heard loud noises and shouting. The argument got louder and louder and seemed very violent. That is when I looked out of my window.

"I saw six guys in their mid-twenties fighting three-on-three.One had a wooden club and another had a aluminium baseball bat.

"One of them took a blow to the head with the baseball bat. He was lying on the floor but they kept hitting him.

"That is when I saw a kitchen knife on the floor with a 3-inch blade and I called the police.

"Then I saw an injured guy being helped up by two others. They got into a dark coloured BMW and drove off towards the Cathall Estate. The others got into a white van.

"I don't think it was a road rage incident. I got the impression they were known to each other."

He added: "The problem is that this sort of thing happens often enough now I'm no longer suprised.

"The only thing that did suprise me is that these were not teenagers messing about, these were grown men."

It is believed Mr Patel, from Henniker Road, Stratford, was with his brother and another man at the time.

Four people have been arrested following the attack near Downsell Primary School - and about 100 yards from where teenager Paul Erhahon was knifed to death last year.

A post mortem will be held this afternoon.

A trail of blood is still visible leading from the scene of the attack, which runs along Ellingham Road and Stewart Road.

Mourning has begun at the victim's family home and a friend, who did not want to be named, said: "He was like a brother to me, I trained with him in a garage in Ilford.

"I have known him for years and it was a big shock.

"It was just a silly misunderstanding, but I still don't know what really happened."

A man, believed be in his early twenties, was found stabbed and dying in St David's Court, Forest Road, near the junction with Wood Street, Walthamstow, at 8.30pm.

He was believed to be visiting his girlfriend who lived in the tower block.

Paramedics spent an hour trying to rescusitate the victim before he was pronounced dead at 9.30pm.

Bobby Supiya, 49, is the proprietor of The Phone Centre, in Wood Street, yards from where the stabbing happened.

After speaking to the victims family, he said: "His father is in tatters and is absolutely distraught about his loss.

"I have been a Waltham Forest resident for a long time and I am quite appalled by what happened."

The victim has yet to be named and no arrests have been made.

Police say they are not linking the killings at this stage.

Forensic examinations are still taking place at both scenes.

Did you know either victims? Leave your tributes in the comments box below.