An east London college was placed on lockdown on Tuesday after a student was stabbed - leaving him fighting for his life in hospital.
Police and paramedics were called to Ardleigh Green Road in Hornchurch at about 10.40am on Tuesday, after an 18-year-old was knifed in the street outside New City College.
He was rushed to hospital, where he remained in a critical condition on Tuesday afternoon.
No arrests have yet been made, but police are investigating.
The college was initially placed on lockdown, but the campus and car park have since reopened.
A New City College spokesperson said: “We are devastated that one of our students was stabbed today in Ardleigh Green Road. The student was taken to hospital by ambulance.
IMPORTANT |
— Havering MPS (@MPSHavering) February 21, 2023
Section 60 Dispersal Order has been authorised by INSP DEPLANQUE Covering the entire RM11 area Duration;
Starts 1200 21/02/2023 Ends 0000 22/02/2023
This is as a result of an assault in the ARLDLEIGH GREEN area.@HaveringDaily @Time1075_fm @BDPost @IlfordRecorder pic.twitter.com/lS9CuVoTcw
“We immediately shut the campus for the safety of our students and lessons for the afternoon were cancelled. At this point our full focus is on the safety of our students and in particular for the victim and their family. We are doing everything we can to support them.
“We urge the community to come forward with any information to help the police with their enquiries and to find those responsible.”
A police cordon was in place in Ardleigh Green Road, but has now reportedly been lifted.
Scotland Yard has put a Section 60 Dispersal Order in place across the entire RM11 area, from midday to midnight on Tuesday, following the assault.
The order gives police the power to stop and search people without needing to have reasonable grounds.
Shocking news this afternoon in Ardleigh Green, Hornchurch, following a vicious knife attack. My thoughts are with the victim and I’m sure I speak for the whole of Havering in praying for his swift recovery. We cannot continue to allow stabbings and violent crime on our streets! pic.twitter.com/exPIej1T6U
— Andrew Rosindell MP (@AndrewRosindell) February 21, 2023
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell condemned the attack on Twitter.
“Shocking news this afternoon in Ardleigh Green, Hornchurch, following a vicious knife attack,” he wrote.
“My thoughts are with the victim and I’m sure I speak for the whole of Havering in praying for his swift recovery. We cannot continue to allow stabbings and violent crime on our streets!”
