The violence has occurred 'on Sadiq Khan's watch', said Howard Cox (Image: GETTY)

       London is now witnessing an “epidemic of violence”, Reform UK’s mayoral candidate Howard Cox has claimed after three people were critically injured in two shocking attacks in south London.

       Meanwhile Tory Susan Hall - who is also challenging Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan - has pledged to “take knives off our streets” should she be elected.

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       Shocking footage of a vicious fight on a train between Shortlands and Beckenham Junction railway stations last night has been widely circulated on social media, with the victim left fighting for his life.

       And hours later, two more people were seriously injured in a fight at Kennington tube station - one of them apparently an innocent bystander who tried to intervene when violence flared.

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       Mr Cox told Express.co.uk: “Sadiq Khan cannot now deny that violent crime has become increasingly rife in London, all under his watch.

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       A still from the shocking video of the Beckenham attack (Image: NC)

       “These latest hideous incidents among so many recently could have been prevented had he as the Police and Crime Commissioner ordered Sir Mark Rowley to take police out of administrative desk work and onto the streets.

       “Just five to ten percent of police that are available are actually on the streets at any one time.”

       Mr Cox continued: “It doesn’t take more than one brain cell to recognise more visible policing will reduce this increasing epidemic of violence. Good Samaritans should not be doing the police’s job.

       “As London’s next Mayor, I will sack any Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police who does not put considerably more bobbies on the beat and I will lobby the head of the British Transport Police and order TfL to increase police presence on our public transport.”

       Reform UK's mayoral candidate Howard Cox (Image: Getty)

       Mr Cox’s remarks notwithstanding, the incidents in question are both being dealt with by British Transport Police rather than the Met.

       Ms Hall told Express.co.uk: "This is as upsetting as it is frightening. To have to witness something like this on your commute is terrible.

       "It's no wonder people don't feel safe.

       "We simply must do everything we can to get knives off our streets and I am determined to make that happen."

       Lib Dem candidate Rob Blackie said: "These terrible crimes will worry Londoners who see crime increasing. Sadiq Khan promised to reform the Met and restore Londoners’ trust. But since these pledges, detection and conviction rates have plummeted and public trust in the police has fallen. Less than half of Londoners now think the Met is doing a good job.

       "The Mayor speaks as if all this was someone else’s problem and nothing to do with him, but he is responsible for running the police. The buck stops with him.

       "I would make fixing the Met my top priority, putting 500 more officers back on the streets by diverting funding from election gimmicks and ensuring that the police spend more time on tackling serious crime, rather than wasting their time carrying out stop and searches for cannabis."

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       Tory candidate Susan Hall (Image: MyLondon)

       Mr Cox’s remarks notwithstanding, the incidents in question are both being dealt with by British Transport Police rather than the Met.

       A man in his 20s was taken to hospital, and is in a critical but stable condition. His family are being supported by specialist officers.

       A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an investigation into a stabbing on board a train towards Beckenham junction station. A knife has also been recovered.

       Superintendent Darren Malpas said: “We understand the concerns of the public following this incident and our detectives have been working tirelessly to investigate. I hope this arrest will bring some reassurance to those on the rail network.

       NEW: Footage from the scene at Kennington Tube Station where police continue enquiries following reports of a ‘stabbing’ - a resident in the area reports seeing a victim “stretchered out into an ambulance” following the alleged incident - more follows pic.twitter.com/cIHIuj3ChI

       — Jonathan Kanengoni (@kanengonij) March 28, 2024

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       “High-visibility patrols will continue in the area and across the network as a visible reassurance to the travelling public.

       In relation to the Kennington incident, SIO Detective Inspector Paul Attwell, also of BTP, said: “We understand that people will be worried by this senseless attack.

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       Horror eight hours in London as man knifed on train before another stabbed at Tube station

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       “Our teams have been working throughout the night, aided by CCTV footage, forensics and detailed accounts from witnesses at the scene.

       “We believe that one of the victims was injured after bravely stepping in to try to prevent the attack.”

       Mr Khan said: "This must have been a distressing incident for those at the scene, and my thoughts are with the victim’s family. I am pleased to hear that an arrest has now been made in this case and I hope that whoever is responsible will be bought to justice swiftly."

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