Man killed at Notting Hill Carnival

The fatal stabbing happened after the festival ended

A man has been stabbed to death during the Notting Hill Carnival in London.

The 21-year-old victim, from Northolt, was stabbed by an unknown assailant in Kensal Road shortly after 2000 BST on Monday, a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said.

He had been taken by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where he was declared dead.

The Notting Hill Carnival is Europe's largest festival and this year's event attracted up to one million people.

First fatality since 1997

The stabbed victim, who has not been named, is the first person to have been killed at the carnival since 1997.

Police are looking for a muscular black man with short hair and wearing a dark hooded top in connection with the attack.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said: "Well over one and a half million people have attended the carnival this year, which has been a happy occasion for the vast majority of people.

"However, this year's celebration has been marred by a number of isolated incidents, most notably the attack on a young man whose death is being treated as murder."

Post mortem due

A post mortem examination is due to be held at Westminster Mortuary on Tuesday.

Prior to the fatal stabbing, police had recorded 89 arrests at the two-day event, most of them for public order and drugs offences.

Officers said two people were injured when they fell into the basement of a house after its railings collapsed during a crowd crush.

Both were treated by the ambulance service at the scene and one was said to be "quite seriously injured".

Another man was said to be "very seriously injured" with internal damage after apparently being attacked at about 1930BST at the junction of Westbourne Grove and Kensington Park Road.

Police also said one man had been stabbed and another had been glassed in the face.

The carnival attracts shy, retiring types

The main celebrations ended at 1900 BST on Monday, the cut-off point agreed between police and organisers.

A massive operation is under way to clear away the debris left by people at the carnival.

The 36th annual Notting Hill Carnival featured more than 75 costume bands and two live stages.

The event has its roots in a 1964 street procession aimed at bringing together an Afro-Caribbean community blighted by racism and prejudice.