A murder investigation has been launched after a 22-year-old man died from stab wounds in the early hours of Tuesday, following what is believed to have been a row that began on a London night bus.
According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were called to the junction of Bath Road and Great Southwest Road in Hounslow, west London, at 1.47am after reports of a stabbing. They attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and found a man with serious injuries; despite the efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, the force said. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday, and a large crime scene remained in place, with surrounding roads closed.
The disturbance is understood to have begun on the N9 service to Heathrow Airport before the bus came to a stop on Bath Road. Detectives believe the victim made his way roughly 100 metres on foot before he collapsed, though they have not yet established whether the stabbing took place on the bus itself or after he got off. CCTV footage from the vehicle is now being examined as part of the investigation.
The attack was witnessed, in part, by residents woken by the commotion outside their homes. Kornelia Smok, 29, told The Sun she was roused by shouting at around 1.40am and looked out of her bedroom window to see three men, two of whom were running, with one heard shouting “run, run.” The third man, bleeding from his stomach, fell to the pavement before getting back to his feet and then collapsing again, she said, at which point a man she believed to be a paramedic began chest compressions. Smok said she did not think the two men running ahead of the victim were his friends, though she could not be certain, and described one as taller than 6ft and the other around 5ft 8in.
Another resident, Kiran Hair, 73, said she saw two or three people outside the bus, with one appearing injured and “dragging himself along the fence as he tried to walk along the pavement.” Her son, Suraj, 39, who was awake watching the World Cup at the time, said he saw flashing police lights and that residents discussing the incident in local WhatsApp groups believed it had started as an altercation on the bus. He told The Sun that officers appeared to be searching inside the vehicle when they arrived at around 2am.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, who is leading the investigation for the Met’s Homicide Command, said officers had “responded quickly” alongside the ambulance service and “did everything possible to help the victim,” adding that his thoughts remained with the man’s family and friends. He described it as “a fast-paced investigation” with enquiries ongoing, and said patrols from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team had been stepped up in the area.
The leader of Hounslow Council said she was “shocked and deeply saddened” to learn of the young man’s death, and that her thoughts, and those of the wider council, were with everyone who knew and loved him.
Police are appealing for anyone with information or footage — including CCTV, doorbell or mobile phone video — to come forward, saying even minor details could prove crucial. Witnesses are asked to call 101 quoting reference CAD 0540/30JUN26, or to pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
