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SPEAKING OUT: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (Photo credit: PA)

FOLLOWING THE murders of two young men on Tuesday night (Feb 20) in Camden, the Commissioner Cressida Dick spoke about the Met's continued commitment to tackle knife crime.

"I have spoken all too often at the anger I feel at the senseless waste of life. Today, two more families are suffering a terrible loss and my thoughts are with them," she said.

"The frequency with which some of our young people are prepared to take each other's lives is shocking. For two young men to be murdered so close together - both in time and geography - makes this even harder to comprehend. Camden is a vibrant and diverse part of our city, the impact of these murders will be felt right throughout that community.

"My detectives are already investigating and I know that they will do all they can to catch those responsible. If you know something that may help then please let us know; if you would not normally speak to police then this is your chance to do the right thing.

"London must come together to make it clear that this cannot continue. We will not police our way out of this problem. There is a role for all of us - London's public, our partners and the police."

To date, 16 people have now been stabbed to death in London since the turn of the year.

There have been 16 fatal stabbings in the capital this year - five of whom were teenagers, including the two men stabbed less than one mile a part from each other in Camden.

17-year-old Abdikarim Hassan, who came to the the UK from Somalia when he was two years old, was pronounced dead at the scene after being found at 8.30pm with multiple stab wounds.

Less than two hours later, at 10.15pm, officers responded to another call just a short bus ride away in Malden Road, where they found a 20-year-old Sadiq Adan Mohamed, with serious stab wounds. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The Commissioner concluded: "Today my officers will be making arrests related to knife crime, they will be using stop and search, they will be carrying out intelligence-led operations.

"My challenge to everyone in London is to ask each and every person to think about what you can do to help us tackle this blight on our city."

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