The British capital ended a crime-filled year in style, with 39 people of the same group arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in the Hammersmith area of London.
The whole group, who attended a house party at the time, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after they chased down and stabbed a man in west London. The unknown victim, believed to be in his mid-30s, was chased by a group of men and women after a fight broke out in a shop in Hammersmith in the early hours of Monday, police declared.
Hammersmith stabbing: A tattoo parlour, a pub and a Sainsbury's Local supermarket are all within police cordons, according to @GregMcTweets who's at the scene. Thirty nine people have been arrested over the attack in the early hours https://t.co/P8FQOyqlTnpic.twitter.com/IvJCofjOoE
The man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was knifed multiple times in Fulham Palace Road shortly before 1am. Scotland Yard declared that no less than 39 people were arrested at a property near the scene and taken into custody at several police stations.
Most of those arrested refused to cooperate, as one of the neighbours, 22-year-old Mason El Hage, declared.
"They lined them up and interrogated them for about an hour," he said.
"I have never seen something like that in my life. It was very extreme in terms of the amount of people involved."
#Hammersmith STABBING Police were called to Fulham Palace Road at around 1am They found a man believed to be in his 30s with stab wound
He was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries
39 People have been arrested at a property nearby on suspicion of attempted murder pic.twitter.com/BhTc6wl8xD
Superintendent Mark Lawrence, said: "What appears to have been a minor argument has resulted in a man sustaining life-threatening injuries.”
"Officers were quickly on the scene and provided him with first aid prior to the arrival of our colleagues in the LAS (London Ambulance Service). He has been taken to hospital where he continues to receive treatment for his injuries.”
"Whilst it is unusual for so many people to be arrested in the early stages of an investigation such as this, due to a lack of co-operation and the necessity of securing essential evidence following a serious assault, this action was appropriate."
Hammersmith stabbing: 39 people arrested at party on suspicion of attempted murder
A man in his 30s was allegedly chased by a group of male and female suspects following an altercation in a shop before the group entered a nearby house party pic.twitter.com/hdLNOAJcjI