Man in 20s stabbed in Hyde Park as thousands gather for pro-cannabis event

A MAN in his 20s was stabbed in Hyde Park this afternoon.

Cops were called at around 4.40pm after a fight broke out in the central London park where people had been gathering for a pro-cannabis rally.

Police are currently investigating if the stabbing was connected to the rally.

The 420 rally, popularised in the US, is marked on April 20 and sees pot smokers celebrate the drug.

Around 30,000 people were expected to join the gathering in the capital for the event with those taking part wanting to see the laws banning the drug’s use and possession changed.

Extinction Rebellion activists joined the pot party after being moved on from Oxford Circus by cops.

A spokeswoman for the Met said: “Police were called at around 1640hrs on Saturday, 20 April, to a fight in the western part of Hyde Park, W1.

“Officers attended along with LAS and found a man suffering a suspected stab injury.

“The man, believed to be aged in his 20s, has been taken to hospital.

“His condition is being treated as potentially life-threatening at this stage. We await a further assessment.

“Detectives from the Central West Command Unit are investigating.”

No arrests have been made so far.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference 5053/apr20. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

420 RALLY

The latest stabbing comes after two men in their 20s were rushed to hospital after they were stabbed in East London this morning.

Cops were called to Dalston at 3.49am following reports of a fight and found two men had suffered knife wounds.

Neither victim is believed to be in a “life-changing condition”.

Just two days earlier a 16-year-old boy was left with serious injuries after he was shot in Wandsworth, south-west London.

Officers from Trident and Area Crime Command are currently investigating after a shooting outside Tasty Chicken, in Tooting.

Previously a 22-year-old man was gunned down and stabbed to death in Newham, East London.

CCTV footage from a local convenience store showed four people running from the scene of the murder.

His death was the 36th murder in the capital this year after 2018’s bloodshed caused the highest London murder rate for a decade.

Theresa May held a summit on knife crime last month as the government desperately tries to get a grip on the situation.