Pictured: Victim, 28, who became London's 65th murder victim this year after being stabbed to death in the street

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A fatal stabbing on the streets of London has brought the capital's 2018 murder toll to 65 people.

The victim, named by police as 28-year-old Arunesh Thangarajah, was stabbed to death in a senseless and frenzied attack in the early hours of Sunday in Mitcham, south-west London. 

Police arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of murder at the scene and he remains in custody. 

Arunesh Thangarajah (pictured) has been named as the young man who was stabbed to death in Mitcham

Police were at the scene throughout Sunday as they investigate the death of the latest victim

This graphic shows the deaths that have blighted the capital so far this year as shootings and stabbings caused the homicide rate to rise higher than New York's

Police launched a murder investigation after officers were called at 3.29am to the Upper Green East area. 

Local residents took pictures of a bodybag at the scene in Mitcham as police carried out their investigation.  

Concerned local resident Shelly, 48, from neighbouring Montrose Gardens, said: 'It's another death, another young boy - we've had enough of it quite frankly.

'He was attacked over at the Co-op and he stumbled over here and across the road, looking for help.

'There's young kids taking photos of the scene and putting them online, they all think it's normal now.'

Local shopworker Milan, 26, said: 'This is terrible - I am scared for the safety of my child now.'  

London mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'The homicide team is investigating and they will do everything they can to bring the perpetrator to justice. My thoughts are with the victim's family.'

He urged anyone with information to contact the police and said he has contacted the Metropolitan Police, the local MP and local council leader about the killing. 

Police have arrested a 44-year-old man after the victim was stabbed to death on the streets of south London

The victim died of stab wounds in the early hours of Sunday morning in Mitcham (pictured)

It marks the 65th murder this year in London, where the homicide rate overtook New York's for the first time since records began.

It comes just days after a trainee bricklayer was stabbed to death outside his home in Barking, East London. 

The 24-year-old, named locally as Mani, ran away from his attackers wearing his slippers as he tried to escape them close to midnight.

Yesterday a 16-year-old boy from Hillingdon was charged with the murder of 20-year-old Osman Shidane in Ruislip.

Mr Shidane was killed on Wednesday and the teenager will face Hillingdon Magistrates Court tomorrow.

A 15-year-old girl who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on police bail.

Officers have arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of murder as the victim becomes the 65th to be killed in London this year

Friends of the homeless victim have said that he was a kind person who would give people his last penny 

Forensics officers are scouring the scene after this year's 65th murder

Police are pictured in Barking, East London, here a young bricklayer became the capital's 64th murder victim on Thursday  

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating after Osman died in hospital following the stabbing. 

In the first three months of this year 45 murders were recorded, compared to the first quarter of 2017 when there were 23. 

There were two stabbings in just half an hour last month, when on April 15 young father Raul Nicolaie was knifed to death aged 26 in north London. In Brixton in the south of the capital, a woman lost her life to knife crime.  

An urgent investigation into the violent crime wave in the capital was launched by the Police and Crime Committee of the London Assembly - and Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to 'take hold of the situation'.  

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