Knife horror as man, 19, is rushed to hospital with 'life-threatening' stab wounds

Police locked down a road in east London today after a man was left with 'life-threatening injuries' after being stabbed near a polling station. 

The 19-year-old was seriously wounded at around 5.15pm in Dagenham, with emergency services rushing to Whalebone Lane South.

While officers were attending the scene the Met Police received a second call from a member of the public reporting they had heard gunshots in the area.

Footage shared on social media following the incident allegedly showed a suspect being handled by police near Becontree Methodist Church, which was being used as a polling station. 

The force said it has arrested a man in connection with the incident, but has not confirmed what he has been detained on suspicion of. Others claimed the victim was taken to hospital in an air ambulance.

A spokesperson for the Met said: 'Police were called to Whalebone Lane South, Dagenham at about 17:18hrs on Thursday, 2 May following reports that a man has been stabbed.

'Shortly after a second call was received by a member of the public reporting gun shots in the area.

'Officers and LAS attended and found a man, aged 19, with stab injuries. He was taken to hospital where he remains. His condition has been assessed as life-threatening.

'His next of kin has been informed.

'A man was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident. He was taken into custody where he remains.

'A crime scene is in place at the location and enquiries are ongoing.'

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service (LAS) confirmed it attended, while the trauma team from the air ambulance were also called.

'We were called today at 5.18 pm (2 May) to reports of an incident on Whalebone Lane South, Dagenham,' they said.

'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team from London's Air Ambulance.

'We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre as a priority.'

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 quoting 5857/02MAY. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.