London's murder toll this year has surpassed 2018 with 25 days left to go, after a man was stabbed to death in Deptford.

This year, 137 people have been murdered in the capital, surpassing 2018's total of 136 after three men were fatally stabbed in just 12 hours.

A 22-year-old man was knifed to death in a fight near a row of shops in Hackney, east London, at 2.30pm yesterday afternoon.

The bloodshed spilled into the night as one man was stabbed to death outside Harrods, the world-famous department store in Knightsbridge, south west London, at just after 12.30am.

A second man was fatally stabbed in Deptford, at 3.30am.

The three killings in close succession took London's murder toll this year to 137, two more than last year's sum - which was itself the highest for a decade.

In the latest attack, police were called to reports of a stabbing in Deptford at 3am.

Police and ambulance crews attended and found a man suffering stab injuries, but he died at the scene half an hour later. Officers have not yet informed the next of kin, nor arrested any suspects.

In the attack outside Harrods, police were called just after midnight.

Officer and ambulance crews found the victim unconscious at the scene, but were unable to save him, and he passed away at the scene.

A crime scene is in place and the police are still investigating.

Met Police said another man was injured in the attack and was taken to hospital where his injuries are not life threatening.

A murder investigation into yesterday's Hackney stabbing is now underway.

Police were called just after 2pm and road and air ambulances were scrambled. Despite paramedics' efforts the 22-year-old man died at the scene, again, around half an hour later.

Police have arrested four men, including two believed aged 14 and 26, on suspicion of murder and both remain in custody at an east London police station.

Officers suspect a fight broke out between a group of people in which the victim was fatally knifed.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine of the Met Police's Specialist Crime Command, investigating, said: "Another young man's life had been tragically cut short due to the violent actions of others and I would urge anyone who was in the area and witnessed this incident to come forward and speak to police.

"While we have made arrests, there are at least two other suspects who remain outstanding and enquiries are currently ongoing to locate them."