The candle-lit vigil. Photo: St Paul’s Church

A CANDLE-LIT vigil was held on the Lisson Green Estate this week as families and friends mourned a 21-year-old man stabbed to death in the street.

A murder investigation is under way after Omar Abdullah died in Lilestone Street on Monday.

At about 3.20pm police, ambulance and air ambulance attended and found two men with stab wounds.

Mr Abdullah could not be saved and the second man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

There have been no arrests but police patrols around the estate have been increased, the Metropolitan Police Service said.

The vigil was organised by St Paul’s Church in Rossmore Road as an inter-faith ceremony for all those who have died or been injured through knife crime. Rector Clare Dowding said the moving ceremony had brought people together to “pray for peace on our streets”.

Families, community and faith leaders, the Lord Mayor of Westminster Hamza Taouzzale and Karen Buck MP attended.

Ms Buck MP said “another life had been cut short” and urged those attending to “commit to act urgently in support of our families and young people.”

The murder investigation is the fourth to be launched in the capital in three days.

Omar Abdullah

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who heads up one of the MPS homicide investigation teams, said: “A young man has died and his family and friends have been left devastated, while a second man fights for his life, due to the consequences of knife crime on our streets.

“We need the public’s help to provide Omar’s family with the answers they so desperately need and arrest and bring those responsible to justice.

“Did you see anything that could help our investigation? Did you capture any images or film of the events on either a mobile device or dashcam?

“I am urging anyone who was in the area and can assist us to understand the events that has led to this tragic murder to speak with us.”

Police said later that day, a third man – aged 21 – was treated in hospital for a hand injury believed to be connected to the attack. His condition is not thought to be serious.

Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, the policing commander for Westminster, said: “I understand the concern and shock that this tragic loss of a young man’s life will have caused in the local community and I, and my officers, share these feelings. Work is continuing at pace by specialist homicide detectives to identify those responsible and local officers continue to support these efforts.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 4334/28Nov. Or, to remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crime­­stoppers on 0800 555 111.