A murder probe has been launched after a man in his 50s was stabbed to death in an alley behind a north London police station.
The victim was found with serious stab wounds lying in a service road behind the Kensal Green Safer Neighbourhood base in Harlesden at 6.30pm yesterday.
Officers and London Ambulance Service were called to reports of a disturbance in the alleyway, behind Ranelagh Road and Station Road, near Willesden Junction Station.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin informed.
A 29-year-old man was arrested locally and was being questioned on suspicion of murder.
Neighbours described the alleyway, which runs behind a number of shops, takeaways, and a pub, “crawling with police” after the fatal stabbing.
One restaurant worker, who declined to be named, said: “There were loads of police in the alley out the back of the run of shops. We were told it was a stabbing but nothing more. We have just had to get on with work and try not to think about it.”
Another worker described police patrolling the area later in the evening.
A post-mortem examination and formal identification of the man will be held in due course.
Officers from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) are investigating.
Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh of the HMCC, who is leading the investigation, said: “I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area as well as witnesses to the stabbing to contact us as soon as possible.
“They may hold vital information into what happened.”
Witnesses can call police on 0208 785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
