Two men have been charged with grievous bodily harm after another suffered life-threatening head injuries in an attack at a London Underground station.
A man in his 20s remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition after police were called to Charing Cross station’s ticket hall around 5.40am on Sunday.
He suffered severe head injuries from the attack, after which three men aged 18, 20 and 24 were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Davion Defoe, 22, and Cavalli Russell, 18, both of Croydon, have since been charged with grievous bodily harm while a third man was released on bail.
Defoe and Russell were due to appear at Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Officers have also arrested a fourth man who remains in police custody.
British Transport Police said the victim had met a group of men and spoken to them in the early hours of the morning, once outside a nightclub on Villiers Street at around 4.55am and again by McDonald’s on Charing Cross Road at around 5.20am.
They met again at the station around 5.34am before the attack.
Three men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was attacked in the ticket hall of Charing Cross Underground station and left in a life-threatening condition
Villiers Street is home to Heaven nightclub, an LGBT venue which opened first in 1979.
Police said there is no indication at this stage to suggest the attack was hate-related.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Stanley said: ‘This was a shocking act of violence which has left the victim in intensive care.
‘It’s pleasing that we’ve been able to bring three people into custody as our investigation continues at pace.
‘We know that the victim encountered a group of men and exchanged words a few times in the early hours of that morning – once outside a nightclub on Villiers Street at around 4.55am, and again outside McDonald’s on Charing Cross Road at around 5.20am.
‘There was a further encounter at Charing Cross Underground at around 5.34am before the victim was attacked.
‘If you were in the area and witnessed these interactions, or captured any mobile phone footage, I urge you to contact us as soon as possible. We’re working at pace to establish what happened in the lead up to the attack on the victim, and your information could be vital.’
Anyone with information was urged to text BTP on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 using the reference 96 of 10 May.
Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
