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Eleven held over Oxford Street knife murder of teenager Eleven held over Oxford Street knife murder of teenager
(about 1 hour later)
Eleven people are being held on suspicion of murder after a teenager was stabbed to death on London's busiest shopping street.Eleven people are being held on suspicion of murder after a teenager was stabbed to death on London's busiest shopping street.
The 18-year-old victim was fatally wounded near the Foot Locker store on Oxford Street at 13:45 GMT on Monday. The 18-year-old victim, named locally as Seydou Diarrassouba, was killed near the Foot Locker store on Oxford Street at 13:45 GMT on Monday.
Three more people are being held in connection with a separate stabbing on the street, several hours later.Three more people are being held in connection with a separate stabbing on the street, several hours later.
The shopping street has been fully re-opened, although a small crime cordon is still in place outside Foot Locker. The street has re-opened, but there is still a small cordon outside the shop.
Scotland Yard confirmed a Taser stun gun was used by an officer controlling the crowd following the killing, near the junction with Stratford Place.Scotland Yard confirmed a Taser stun gun was used by an officer controlling the crowd following the killing, near the junction with Stratford Place.
Officers are questioning a 16-year-old along with three people aged 17, another five who are aged 19 and two more, both 22.
Less than five hours later, near Oxford Circus, a man aged 21 was stabbed in the thigh, leading to the three further arrests.Less than five hours later, near Oxford Circus, a man aged 21 was stabbed in the thigh, leading to the three further arrests.
Police said it was too early to confirm whether or not the two incidents were connected.Police said it was too early to confirm whether or not the two incidents were connected.
However, Insp Bruce Middlemiss, the duty officer for police in Westminster, said: "They are a similar sort of circumstances, youths, possibly from the same south London area."However, Insp Bruce Middlemiss, the duty officer for police in Westminster, said: "They are a similar sort of circumstances, youths, possibly from the same south London area."
The first stabbing happened at the height of what is traditionally the busiest shopping day on Oxford Street.The first stabbing happened at the height of what is traditionally the busiest shopping day on Oxford Street.
A post-mortem examination of the victim - who died at the scene - is due to take place later and his next-of-kin have been informed, but his identity has not been released. A post-mortem examination of the victim is due to take place later and his next-of-kin have been informed, but his identity has not been released.
Mim Shaikh, who was friends with the victim, said: "I lived in the same block as him and we went to the same high school. We'd go down to play football together. Mim Shaikh, who was friends with Mr Diarrassouba, said: "I lived in the same block as him and we went to the same high school. We'd go down to play football together.
"When I'd see him in the street, he'd give me a cheeky grin and a nod.""When I'd see him in the street, he'd give me a cheeky grin and a nod."
Det Ch Insp Mark Dunne said there appeared to have been two groups of young people "opposing each other" prior to the fatal stabbing.Det Ch Insp Mark Dunne said there appeared to have been two groups of young people "opposing each other" prior to the fatal stabbing.
"Fighting took place inside the shop and outside," he said."Fighting took place inside the shop and outside," he said.
"A number of weapons have been recovered from that scene. Whether I have got the murder weapon I don't know.""A number of weapons have been recovered from that scene. Whether I have got the murder weapon I don't know."
He said there were many potential witnesses because the area was so busy, and he was keen to obtain any video footage which they had filmed.He said there were many potential witnesses because the area was so busy, and he was keen to obtain any video footage which they had filmed.
"There were certainly people in the store, and outside the store, who had their phones recording matters," said Mr Dunne."There were certainly people in the store, and outside the store, who had their phones recording matters," said Mr Dunne.
"We would be particularly interested in those coming forward.""We would be particularly interested in those coming forward."
Store 'closed'
The area, close to Bond Street Tube, was closed between Duke Street and New Bond Street and shops within the cordon were forced to shut.The area, close to Bond Street Tube, was closed between Duke Street and New Bond Street and shops within the cordon were forced to shut.
Police reopened the area 06:00 GMT on Tuesday. A worker at one retailer, who did not want to give her name, said: "We stopped trading.
'High presence' "We closed down the store and we had to stay in, because it wasn't safe."
The second stabbing took place near to the junction with Regent Street at 18:20 GMT.The second stabbing took place near to the junction with Regent Street at 18:20 GMT.
The 21-year-old victim is in a stable condition and his injury is not thought to be life-threatening.The 21-year-old victim is in a stable condition and his injury is not thought to be life-threatening.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the attack and are in custody awaiting questioning.Three men have been arrested in connection with the attack and are in custody awaiting questioning.
Mr Middlemiss said the public should not feel unsafe shopping in the West End.
"There is a high police presence here, we have a number of operations in place already for the shopping times because we were aware of the amount of people who would be here," he said.
"We are going to go back and review the intelligence for both incidents and see if we need to increase the police presence here, but at the moment we are not concerned for ordinary members of the public who are shopping."
Jace Tyrell, from the New West End Company, which represents shops in Oxford Street and Bond Street, said there had been "shock" among retailers over the stabbings.Jace Tyrell, from the New West End Company, which represents shops in Oxford Street and Bond Street, said there had been "shock" among retailers over the stabbings.
"This is an extremely rare event to have happened on Oxford Street, and I think we're still a bit stunned by what happened," he said."This is an extremely rare event to have happened on Oxford Street, and I think we're still a bit stunned by what happened," he said.
He reiterated the message from the police about safety in the West End and said officers had been "very reassuring" and Oxford Street was "open for business" again. He said police officers had been "very reassuring" and Oxford Street was "open for business" again.
Were you on the site? Did you see what happened? Did you know the victim? Please contact us with your comments.Were you on the site? Did you see what happened? Did you know the victim? Please contact us with your comments.