- Did you see what happened? martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk
A masked mugger attempted to snatch a pedestrian’s gold watch before stabbing him to death in front of his partner outside a high-end London casino after he fought back, witnesses told MailOnline today.
The murder victim died in broad daylight outside the £1,650-a-night 5-star Park Tower Hotel and Casino, which is directly across the road from the Harvey Nichols department store in Knightsbridge.
The stabbing took place in Seville Street, which is also close to Harrods, a host of luxury stores and also Hyde Park. The Park Tower Hotel and Casino is also next door to Nusr-Et, the steakhouse run by celebrity chef Salt Bae.
Witnesses told MailOnline they believe the tragedy was related to an attempted watch theft and the murder came hours after London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan promised a police blitz on crime in the capital, including knife crime.
A worker at a luxury hotel near the murder scene told MailOnline: ‘I was working there last night. My secretary told me a masked man tried to rob his watch. It was a couple. But the guy pulled out his hand and he took out his knife and stabbed him.
‘The couple were walking along the pavement and he tried to fight back but the guy took the knife and stabbed him in the chest.
‘The police chased the guy but I don’t think they caught him. I saw a little bit of the CCTV. I saw the man lying out on the pavement, a woman was supporting him and crying. There was a lot of blood. He was wearing a white or cream coloured t-shirt. He was unconscious. ‘
The worker said they believed the attacker was on an e-scooter but an American tourist said they thought the killer was on a bike and that they had been warned by friends not to wear any expensive jewellery while walking in London.
Two American guests staying at the Park Royal Hotel told of their shock over the stabbing.
‘We were out around the same time this happened and my father passed by and it happened right there’, they said.
‘The concierge said it was a stabbing. There was an argument and he (the attacker) was on a bike. ‘
The couple, who are heading back to the US today, added: ‘All our friends that live here told us don’t wear expensive watches. It’s kind of sad being in London not being able to wear your expensive jewellery.
‘They said this was the area to stay in too’.
Police are hunting for the killer and have not made any arrests.
A nearby shop worker said: ‘There are phone snatchers and robberies in this area every day but we haven’t had something as big as this in ages. It’s a murder – it’s scary.
‘It puts tourists off. They don’t feel safe anymore. It’s bad for business, it’s bad for everyone. The whole area depends on them.’
One witness described the scene as ‘bloody’ and it remains sealed off and under police guard today. There have been no arrests.
It is not known if the victim had been in the casino but emergency services were seen going in and out of the building last night.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘At 9.24pm on Wednesday, July 9 officers, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance responded to reports of a stabbing on Seville Street, Knightsbridge.
‘One victim, a man in his 30s, was found at the scene with stab wounds and was treated by paramedics.
‘Sadly, despite their best efforts he was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival.
‘Emergency services remain at the location. A crime scene has been established.
‘Several lines of enquiry are ongoing. At this stage no arrests have been made’.
Shocked commuters could be seen leaving the Knightsbridge Tube station exit outside Harvey Nichols and walking around the cordoned off murder scene.
The main entrance to the upmarket designer store has been blocked off by a large cordon spanning across to Salt Bae’s iconic Nusr-et steak restaurant.
Police officers can be seen standing guard outside the Park Tower Casino as morning commuters on foot and in cars go past.
One nearby worker told MailOnline he had left his shift shortly before the stabbing.
He said: ‘What an area for this to happen. Who would be carrying a knife around here?
‘We see stolen phones but a murder? I can’t believe it. There’s cameras everywhere here.’
Formula One star Lando Norris was spotted getting into the back of a car outside The Mandarin Oriental hotel just opposite the murder scene this morning.
The McLaren driver – who won the British GP at Silverstone on Sunday – got into the back of a black Range Rover and was driven down the exclusive Knightsbridge road past the scene.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 9:23pm yesterday to reports of a stabbing in Seville Street, Knightsbridge.
‘We sent resources to the scene, including paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance, which consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car.
‘The first paramedic arrived in less than four minutes.
‘Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man died at the scene.’
Yesterday Sir Sadiq Khan announced a policing blitz on London’s 20 most troubled town centres, specifically for shoplifting, robbery, knife crime and anti-social behaviour.
His Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: ‘The safety of our town centres is more than just policing – it’s about building stronger, more connected communities where everyone feels secure.
‘Across our city there will be partnership led operations to tackle shoplifting and clear, visible neighbourhood officers out on patrol, keeping our communities safe and working to build safer town centres and a safer London for everyone’.
Call police on 101 referencing CAD 8521/09JUL if you were a witness or have any information which might help. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
