Bermondsey stabbings: Four killed in south-east London home

A "kind, loving" grandmother was among four people who were stabbed to death in a house in south-east London.

Officers forced their way into a home in Delaford Road, Bermondsey, at about 01:40 BST following a call from neighbours about a disturbance.

Dolet Hill and a man, both aged in their mid-60s, plus two other women, in their 30s and 40s respectively, were all pronounced dead at the scene.

A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody.

It is thought that all five people were known to each other.

Ms Hill's niece paid tribute to her aunt, saying she "didn't deserve this".

Dolet Hill was described by her niece as someone who was "very loving, very kind, very generous"

Venecia Reid said: "She was very loving, very kind, very generous, she'd do anything for you.

"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."

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."

Police forensic teams have been at the scene throughout the day

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted he was heartbroken.

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost loved ones in this awful crime," he added.

London Ambulance Service (LAS) said it was called at 02:07.

"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."

LAS was not able to confirm if the person who was taken to hospital was the same person who had been arrested, but said only five people had been in the property.

A section of the road in Bermondsey, Southwark, has been closed off

Detectives from the Met's specialist crime unit are investigating and police said next of kin were being contacted.

The middle section of the road has been blocked off with metal fencing and three white forensic tents have also been erected.

A resident of the adjacent road, Bramcote Grove, who did not want to be named, said he was woken by police sirens and a helicopter.

"When I saw four ambulances - not one, not two, but four - I knew it was serious," he said.

The incident happened on a street made up of terraced housing

Anne Birkett, 60, whose back bedroom looks on to the property where they were found, said she was woken by police sirens and a circling helicopter just before 02:00.

She said the street was filled with flashing lights, but she and her husband did not go outside their house or see anything further.

"It's devastating, you hear all of this but you never assume it's going to be right on your own doorstep," she said.

Ms Birkett said there were several primary schools in the residential area near the scene.

"What's London coming to now? There's a crime every day happening... it's dreadful," she added.

Last year, the Met opened 79 murder investigations involving stabbings, 27 of which were teenagers.

At the scene

By Sonja Jessup, BBC London home affairs correspondent

Many of the neighbours I've spoken to say they were unaware of the killings until they stepped out of their houses this morning to see the police cordon and journalists on their street.

A section of the road has been screened off to the public behind a tall metal fence, behind which there appears to be several forensic tents and forensic teams examining the scene.

Neighbours have told me they are deeply saddened to hear of the deaths.

Several say it's a quiet community, where many of those on the street know their neighbours and they'll be offering support to each other.

Local MP Harriet Harman said: "Tragically four people have been killed and that is shocking to happen anywhere but especially in this very peaceful, quiet, very settled community here.

"The police have arrested someone, but it's really important still that people give information, any information they've got to the police so that whoever committed this horrific crime can be brought to justice."

Asked about the victims, the MP for Camberwell and Peckham added: "I don't really want to say anything more than the police are actually saying.

"But it's a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who've tragically had their lives cut short."

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