A man is in a critical condition in hospital following a "terrifying" machete brawl on Oxford Street in the early hours of New Year's Day. The incident, which saw two men wielding large knives, resulted in chaotic scenes with bystanders fleeing the area.
A 25-year-old man suffered what has been described by paramedics as a catastrophic bleed and was immediately taken to a trauma centre. Despite police arriving swiftly at the scene, no arrests have yet been made and efforts are ongoing to locate the perpetrator.
A spokesperson for the Met Police told The Mirror: "At 04:04hrs on Wednesday, 1 January police were called to Oxford Street, just outside Bond Street Underground Station, following reports of men armed with knives. Officers attended and at the junction of Oxford Street and South Malton Street they found a 25-year-old man with a stab wound."
"He has been taken to hospital and we await an update on his condition. An investigation is underway and a crime scene remains in place. At this early stage there have been no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, providing the reference 2175/01JAN. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
A significant crime scene has been established, leading to the closure of Bond Street Tube station as forensic teams investigate. A witness described the chaos, saying: "It was terrifying, people were screaming and running. The area was swarming with police and paramedics within minutes."
Authorities are urging anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward.
The violent event occurred amidst New Year's celebrations in central London, where thousands had gathered for the fireworks display along the Thames. Despite weather concerns, the event went ahead, marking the London Eye's 25th anniversary, which was at the heart of the display, reports the Mirror.
The message of the night was to "honour our history and never give up hope for our future". The Mayor of London's office reported that the celebration attracted around 100,000 ticket holders, featuring over 12,000 fireworks and 420 lights.
Emphasising London's spirit of inclusivity, the event concluded with a quote from Paddington Bear, "anyone can fit in" in London, followed by Boney M's rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, organised the show, dubbing it the "biggest fireworks taking place anywhere across Europe". He expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating: "It's fantastic to welcome 2025 with our biggest and best-ever New Year's Eve celebrations. From honouring the heroes of the D-Day landings to Paddington Bear celebrating our capital's diversity, I'm proud that we sent a message of hope and love to the world, as we build a better London for everyone."