Mother stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival was ‘caught in middle of altercation’

A mother who was stabbed at the Notting Hill Carnival was “caught in the middle of an altercation between two groups of men”, police have said.

The woman, who attended the carnival’s family day with her young child on Sunday, was attacked in Golborne Road shortly before 6pm.

Three people have been arrested over the assault on the 32-year-old, who remains in hospital in a critical condition.

The Metropolitan Police said initial inquiries suggested she was “caught up in the middle of an altercation between two groups of men”. It is not yet clear whether they were known to her.

The force said a 20-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and violent disorder, while two other men, aged 24 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

All three were detained at separate addresses in Hammersmith and Fulham on Tuesday morning, and remain in custody.

There were five stabbings at the carnival on Monday as well as an incident involving a corrosive substance, the Met said, with two of the stabbing victims also in a critical condition.

Police made at least 230 arrests relating to the carnival on Monday, including 49 for possession of an offensive weapon. Three firearms were seized, and 35 officers were injured.

Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met’s spokeswoman for the Notting Hill Carnival, said: “Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the woman who is fighting for her life in hospital and with her loved ones. She came to the carnival to have fun with her young child and was caught up in the most awful violence.

“These arrests are a significant step in the investigation. They are the result of a determined effort by detectives who have worked around the clock to identify, locate and arrest these suspects.

“We should not underestimate how much more difficult those vital early stages of an investigation are when they take place in the context of a busy, crowded event like carnival.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the incredible work of the officers, including police medics, who arrived so quickly, delivering emergency medical treatment and securing the scene to preserve vital evidence. Our investigations into the other incidents over the weekend continue.”