Crime reporter(wp/es):
A young man was “viciously” stabbed to death outside a hall of residence at London’s world-renowned University of the Arts, it has emerged.
The man in his 20s was knifed in the chest yards from the main entrance as he walked near college accommodation block in west London at 6.30pm on Thursday.
Witnesses said a fight broke out between two men “pushing and shoving” before the victim staggered to a bench clutching his chest. He fell forwards and collapsed onto the pavement.
Paramedics battled to save his life for 20 minutes at the scene before he was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A manhunt is now underway for the knifeman who is believed to have dropped his weapon and fled.
Students who live in the Costume Store, opposite North Acton Tube station, told of their shock at the death on their doorstep.
The modern block houses 530 UAL undergraduates most of whom study at the London College of Fashion in Shepherd’s Bush.
It was placed on lockdown until the early hours with security guards manning the gates as police with sniffer dogs searched inside.
A student from China living in the Costume Store halls told the Standard: “He was killed in the street. I don’t know who he is. We are all scared. The policemen keep telling us not to worry.
“I don’t want to tell my parents because I know they will be really worried and want me to go home.”
Scotland Yard said the victim’s family have been informed of his death.
A 27-year-old international student studying for her postgraduate degree said: “It’s terrible. The police refused to tell us anything apart from the fact that someone had been stabbed and told us to go home another way.
“It’s so scary because there’s so many of us students that live in this area. I’m sad to hear someone has lost his life over a brawl.
"I’m sure we’ll all be a lot more cautious now.”
The UAL comprises Central Saint Martins, Camberwell College of Arts, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication and Wimbledon Arts College.
The Costume Store halls, a mix of shared flats and self-contained dorms, opened in September 2012 on the site that once housed the BBC’s costume collection.
A student who lives in the block in Victoria Road wrote on Twitter: “A person I live [with] has been stabbed outside of our flat walking home and is in hospital and we are all locked in the common room.”
Another wrote: “Someone got stabbed downstairs. I’m just staring from the window, there are 11 police cars and police everywhere. They’ve brought in police dogs and looking around.”
A London College of Fashion student said: “I lived in these halls last year. So horrible to see news like this.”
A pub manager who works nearby told the Standard: “They were pushing and shoving each other and then the guy stabbed him and ran off.
“I saw him lying on the floor. The paramedics were doing CPR on the guy for about 20 minutes.
“They were still trying to save him as they were putting him in the ambulance. He was on his own, and I heard he was a student.
“Nothing really happens around here, it’s very quiet so it is shocking that this has happened.
“It’s really sad. I was shocked. It’s just no regard for life.”
In a message on its Facebook page, a UAL spokesman wrote: “If you’re a UAL student at The Costume Store, there are residence managers on site to help with any enquiries.
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