Crime reporter(wp/es):
A corner of east London was placed on lockdown after a spate of knifepoint muggings in the area, frightened residents say.
Boaters and residents living in Hackney Wick told of their fear after four people were robbed by thugs armed with knives over three days just before Christmas.
Christina Kime, 26, and her close friend 30-year-old Drew McEwan, were violently robbed as they made their way home through the Olympic Park at about 10.30pm on December 22, the Standard reported on Friday.
Assistant fashion merchandiser Ms Kime and Mr McEwan, a management consultant, told of their ordeal as police confirmed two other robberies involving a knife and at least two male suspects took place in the area over three days.
On Wednesday, December 21, shortly after 10pm, a man aged in his 20s suffered a slash wound to the hand after he was mugged of his phone and wallet by at least two suspects less than a mile away next to Parnell Road Bridge.
Police said that shortly before midnight on Friday, December 23, another man reported having two phones and a wallet stolen by a pair of male suspects in Mandeville Place, also in the Olympic Park. A spokesman for the Met said the victim reported seeing a knife during the robbery.
Scotland Yard said it was not yet clear whether the attacks were linked.
Greg Keegan, a 36-year-old boater, told the Standard that the robberies had left the community feeling too afraid to go out after dark.
Mr Keegan, a photographer who has been mooring his boat in Hackney Wick for about two years, said: “Everyone is feeling very anxious about it. There is a feeling of anxiety in the Hackney Wick area and the boating community.
“The neighbourhood has been really quiet. Everyone has sort of been on lockdown and trying not to go out after dark.
“Every single night there have been reports of a mugging posted on social media. It has brought the Hackney Wick community together trying to tackle this.”
But he also said he feared vigilante groups would form to try to tackle the thieves if police did not step up patrols in the area.
Mr Keegan added: “This is the biggest problem we have ever had.
“People are afraid to do the usual things they would do at this time of year, it’s taken the fun out of it.”
A 35-year-old man, who was the victim of the mugging on Friday, December 23, told of his terror after two suspects allegedly held a knife close to his face and ordered him to hand over his mobile phones and the contents of his wallet.
The victim, who was too afraid to be named, was walking home from a night out through the Olympic Park when he was attacked.
The digital business owner, who has lived in the area for about nine years, said: “As I was going through the park I saw one of them riding a bike.
“The moment I saw them, I knew something wasn’t right, one of them had their face covered.
“I started to walk really quickly but I knew I couldn’t out-run them. I knew what was going to happen next.
“I didn’t expect to see a knife. One of them held it about two inches from my face. They took everything from me.
“I tried to lift my head up but they said ‘don’t look, don’t look’. He was tapping with the knife on my head. I was literally petrified.
“I literally haven’t had a proper night’s sleep since. I called the police within 10 minutes.
“I am still in after shock. Hopefully it will fade away. I have never before felt unsafe.”
A Met Police spokesman said: "Police were called shortly before midnight on Friday, December 23, to reports of a robbery involving two suspects on bikes in the Olympic Park area.
"A man reported having two phones and the contents of his wallet stolen. A knife was seen. Officers from Newham borough are investigating."
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