Two men, aged 29 and 39, have been arrested on suspicion of murder after three men were stabbed to death in Seven Kings, north-east London, on Sunday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
Emergency services were called to Elmstead Road, in Seven Kings, Redbridge, at 7.38pm, after reports that three men had been stabbed.
All three men - aged in their 20s or 30s - were pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman said the arrested men and the victims were all known to each other.
“We believe the groups involved are members of the Sikh community.”
Officers are still contacting members of the dead men’s families, he said.
“It was a horrific scene for anyone to come across and my heart goes out to the families and those affected by it because it is unprecedented to have something like this,” he added.
Police are still investigating a motive but have ruled out terrorism, he said.
A police cordon was in place outside Seven Kings railway station on Monday morning.
The owner of Seven Kings Cars, opposite the station, said a man with blood on his hands had approached him on Sunday evening asking for help after three people had been badly injured.
Nadeem Rana told the PA news agency: “I was shocked. He (the man) had blood on his hands and he said there were people in very poor condition.”
The man and a passenger who had been waiting for a taxi made off towards the scene to help, Rana said.
He added that he was shocked to hear the men had died.
“It’s shocking, a feeling of insecurity, to be honest,” he said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted that extra police enforcement powers have been authorised for the whole of Redbridge borough until Monday at 8am.
Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge Council, tweeted: “A deeply distressing night has just got a lot worse.
“Deeply saddened by the deaths of three young men in Seven Kings as a result of knife crime. I have asked for extra police resources.
“The mayor has promised every help that is needed and the council will assist in any way it can.”