Bermondsey stabbings: What happened in Delaford Road home in London, who were the victims & who was arrested?

A grandmother in her 60s is one of four people stabbed to death in a Bermondsey home in the early hours of Monday morning.

The woman, named locally as Dolet Hill, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man in his 60s and two women in their 30s and 40s also died as a result of being stabbed.

Detectives from the Metropolitan police’s Specialist Crime are leading the investigation.

What are the facts so far?

The Metropolitan police were called to the residential property on Delaford Road at approximatelyt 1.40am on Monday April 25, 2022.

After forcing their way into the property, officers discovered three women and one man with stab wounds.

The four people were treated at the scene but all died as a result of the injuries.

Post-mortems will now be carried out.

Police believe all four of the deceased and the 20 year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder all knew one another.

What is known about the victims?

A woman in her 60s named locally as Dolet Hill, is one of the four to have sadly lost their lives.

Ms. Hill, according to her Facebook profile, is from Lyssons, Saint Thomas, Jamaica and works Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

“She was very loving, very kind, very generous, she’d do anything for you,” said Ms. Hill’s neice, Venecia Reid.

“She worked very hard in this country to support her two girls and her two grandkids.”

She added: “I’m very, very heartbroken. I hope her soul rests in peace.”

A man in his mid-sixties and two other women in their 30s and 40s were also pronounced dead at the scene.

What has the Metropolitan police said?

Met Police Commander Colin Wingrove said: “I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of all those concerned.

“This is a deeply shocking incident and we will do everything we can to provide support to everyone affected at this difficult time.”

Has anyone been arrested?

Yes. The Metropolitan police arrested one man in his on suspicion of murder.

The man remains in police custoday in a police station in south London.

What has the reaction been in Bermondsey?

Sixty year-old neighbour, Anne Birkett, told the Guardian:

“It’s devastating – you hear all of this but you never assume it’s going to be right on your own doorstep.

“I’m a foster carer and I’ve got children in my care, and now I’ve got to protect them now because of what’s happened,” she said.

What did Mayor of London Sadiq Khan say about the incident?

Mayor Khan said he was “heartbroken” and that his thoughts and prayers were with the family and friends of the four people who died.

“Heartbroken to hear that three women and a man were killed last night in a devastating incident at an address in Southwark.

“My thoughts are with the family & friends of those who have lost loved ones in this awful crime. An investigation is underway and a man has been arrested,” said Mayor Khan.

A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service (LAS) said: “We sent three ambulance crews, two fast response units, two incident response officers, two advanced paramedics and a team leader to the scene. Our team worked closely with colleagues from other emergency services.

“Sadly, despite the best efforts of our medics, four patients died at the scene. One man was taken to hospital as a priority.”

Has the Metropolitan police established a motive?

At the time of publication the Met had not yet established a motive behind the incident and stressed “enquiries continue to establish the circumstances”.