Two teens left critical as gangs clash in "nappy valley" graveyard

A teenager is fighting for life and another seriously injured after a suspected gang fight in south London. Police said they were called to reports of a fight involving five or six teenagers in Garratt Lane, Wandsworth at 10.05 pm last night. When officers arrived the group had scattered but two 19-year-olds were found collapsed near-by suffering from stab wounds. The young men – who were found in Malva Close -  suffered serious knife wounds to the torso. The teenagers are thought to have been trying to flee the scene when they collapsed. Officers were waiting to question them in hospital where they were under police guard today. One teenager is said to be in a critical condition and his injuries are said to be life threatening, the other is serious but stable. Four young men aged in their late teens and early 20s were arrested by police last night. Police flooded the area after the stabbing last night in a search for suspects. Roads around Mulva Close and the South Thames College were sealed off this morning as police continued a search of the streets. St Ann's Hill was closed between East Hill and St Ann's Crescent causing considerable disruption to traffic. The scene is close to the million pound homes of Wandsworth’s so-called “nappy valley.” The Met is battling rising levels of reported knife crime and youth violence in London though incidents where knives were used to injure people is falling. Senior officers were holding a crisis meeting this morning to discuss the stabbing amid fears of possible reprisals by rival gangs. Extra patrols were being deployed to reassure people and deter more attacks. A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said: "Staff treated two patients, both with stab wounds and taken as priorities to hospital. One man was 19-years-old, but the age of the other is unknown." Twitter users in the area posted their shocked responses on the social networking site. Chloe Carter wrote: "Happened about 10.30pm last night while I was in the Brewers Inn. Police advised someone had been stabbed."

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