A masked mugger attempted to snatch a pedestrian’s gold watch before stabbing him to death in front of his partner outside a high-end London casino when he fought back, witnesses have told investigators.
The 24-year-old victim died in broad daylight outside the £1,650-a-night Park Tower Hotel and Casino in Seville Street, directly across from Harvey Nichols department store in Knightsbridge, at approximately 9.30pm on Wednesday night.
The stabbing occurred just hours after London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan announced a police blitz on crime in the capital, including knife crime, with increased patrols promised for 20 of London’s most troubled town centres.
Fatal Confrontation
Witnesses believe the tragedy was related to an attempted watch theft, with one hotel worker telling investigators they reviewed CCTV footage of the incident.
“I was working there last night. My secretary told me a masked man tried to rob his watch. It was a couple,” the worker said.
But the guy pulled out his hand and he took out his knife and stabbed him. The couple were walking along the pavement and he tried to fight back but the guy took the knife and stabbed him in the chest.”
The witness described seeing the victim lying on the pavement in a white or cream-coloured t-shirt, unconscious and surrounded by blood whilst a woman supported him and cried.
Police Hunt for Killer
Police are hunting for the killer but have not made any arrests. Conflicting witness accounts suggest the attacker may have been on either an e-scooter or bicycle.
Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads policing in Kensington and Chelsea, said: “Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones following the shocking events that took place last night.”
Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command, supported by local officers, are working at pace to establish the circumstances of what happened,” he added.
The superintendent confirmed that whilst robbery was “an active line of enquiry”, police were “keeping an open mind about all possible motives and the exact circumstances are still to be determined.”
Tourist Fears Mount
The murder has sent shockwaves through the exclusive area, which is home to Harrods, numerous luxury stores and Hyde Park, with some tourists cutting short their stays.
Two American guests at the Park Tower Hotel expressed their shock, with one saying: “We were out around the same time this happened and my father passed by and it happened right there.”
“All our friends that live here told us don’t wear expensive watches. It’s kind of sad being in London not being able to wear your expensive jewellery,” they added.
One Kuwait national who was due to spend the week in the luxury hotel decided to head home early over safety fears.
Saud Abdullah, 55, who witnessed the aftermath, said: “I live in the hotel. I was walking towards Boots. At about 9pm there was nothing. I got there, it was closed. I came back and he was there. It happened so fast.”
“I haven’t been to London in a while but I’m really scared to be honest,” he added.
Emergency Response
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed: “We sent resources to the scene, including paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer.”
“We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance, which consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car. The first paramedic arrived in less than four minutes.”
“Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man died at the scene,” they said.
The public and paramedics fought desperately to save the victim, with witnesses describing attempts to revive him through chest compressions.
A Japanese tourist who witnessed the scene said: “A woman who looked like she was with the injured man was screaming ‘oh my god’ again and again. She was very very agitated.”
“It was horrible for us to see. We can’t get the incident out of our heads. We didn’t sleep last night,” they added.
Business Impact
Local businesses fear the murder will devastate tourism in the area, with one shop worker saying: “There are phone snatchers and robberies in this area every day but we haven’t had something as big as this in ages.”
“It’s a murder – it’s scary. It puts tourists off. They don’t feel safe anymore. It’s bad for business, it’s bad for everyone. The whole area depends on them,” they warned.
The main entrance to Harvey Nichols has been blocked off by a large cordon spanning across to Salt Bae’s iconic Nusr-Et steak restaurant, whilst police officers stand guard outside the Park Tower Casino.
One nearby worker expressed disbelief at the location, saying: “What an area for this to happen. Who would be carrying a knife around here? We see stolen phones but a murder? I can’t believe it. There’s cameras everywhere here.”
Crime Context
The murder came as Mayor Khan announced a summer crackdown on crime in London’s most troubled areas, with Stratford, Woolwich, Finsbury Park, Croydon and the West End among 20 high streets set for increased police activity.
Metropolitan Police data shows these areas account for almost a tenth of knife offences, one in four thefts and six per cent of all anti-social behaviour calls in the capital.
Sir Sadiq claimed knife crime was down 18.1 per cent in London, with residential burglary dropping 17.7 per cent and robbery decreasing 12.8 per cent, though critics dispute these figures.
The killing also comes amid a surge in luxury watch thefts across London, with more than 6,800 watches reported stolen last year, prompting some wealthy individuals to stop wearing expensive timepieces in public.
Celebrity Sighting
Formula One star Lando Norris was spotted getting into a black Range Rover outside The Mandarin Oriental hotel opposite the murder scene on Thursday morning.
The McLaren driver, who won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday, was driven down the exclusive Knightsbridge road past the cordoned-off area.
Investigation Continues
The victim’s next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, whilst a crime scene remains in place for forensic examination.
It is not known if the victim had been in the casino, but emergency services were seen going in and out of the building on Wednesday night.
Rachel Blake MP said: “I am shocked and saddened to hear the news from Knightsbridge yesterday evening.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues, with extra officers deployed to the area to reassure the public and answer questions.
The murder represents a grim milestone for an area that prides itself on luxury and safety, raising urgent questions about security in London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.
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Image Credit:
Tower Casino – Photo by Kārlis Dambrāns, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
