10:56am Tuesday 1st April 2008
By Guardian Reporter
A teen who collapsed outside Lunar House after being knifed during a fight in Croydon town centre is fighting for his life in hospital.
It is thought Daniel Dokubo, 19, was stabbed in Chapel Walk, but staggered through the Whitgift Centre to the Border and Immigration Agency building in Wellesley Road with a knife still embedded in his chest.
An air ambulance helicopter landed yards from the scene as concerned shoppers and residents looked on. Paramedics tried desperately to stem the flow of blood before placing him on a stretcher and taking him to hospital, where his condition was said to be serious.
The broad daylight attack was the latest in a long line of stabbings and shootings that are blighting Croydon's reputation.
It is thought he followed his attackers before collapsing in a pool of blood close to the Home Office building.
It came less than a week after a 16-year-old was stabbed minutes after appearing at Croydon's youth court in Barclay Road.
His attacker brazenly walked into the court building after knifing the youth under his arm to announce he had just carried out the attack. A youth was later arrested and bailed.
The council's crime spokesman, Councillor Steve O'Connell, said more needed to be done to stop teens carrying deadly weapons.
He told the Croydon Guardian: "Too many young people are carrying knives as a matter of course.
"These offences need to be looked at much more seriously if we are to try and tackle them.
"They are increasing the danger to the public and the people involved. People carrying out these crimes are ruining lives and must be stopped.
"I will exercise my influence on the police to try and make Croydon safer for the public."
A police spokesman confirmed the teen was taken to hospital after being stabbed. Officers from Croydon's CID are investigating and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
The male attacker was mixed-race, about 5ft 11in, with a scar on the right side of his face.
Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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