A murder investigation has been launched after a teenager was stabbed to death in broad daylight close to Oxford Street.

The fatal knife attack happened shortly after 5.30pm in Market Place, at the junction with London’s famous shopping street.

The victim, in his late teens, died two hours later as a result of his injuries, the Met Police said tonight.

Three arrests have been made following the attack, which was carried out in front of horrified shoppers.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: ‘Police were called at 5.38pm on Saturday, 8 August to reports of an assault on Market Place at the junction with Oxford Street, W1.

‘Officers attended and found a male, aged in his late teens, suffering from a stab injury.

‘He was taken by the London Ambulance Service to a central London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7.33pm.

‘His next of kin has been informed. Formal identification awaits.

‘A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.’

This comes less than 24 hours after two separate stabbings in London. A 29-year-old man was rushed to hospital in Shoreditch last night after being attacked, while another man in his late 20s was said to be seriously injured after being knifed in Seven Sisters, north London.

Meanwhile in Sheffield, a man died of stab wounds and three others were injured after a mass brawl broke out in the early hours of the morning.

Last month figures from the Office for National Statistics showed knife crimes in England and Wales had risen to an all time high.

There were 46,265 offences in the 12 months to the end of March this year, up 6% from the previous year.

The figures, which did not include Greater Manchester Police, were partly driven by a 7% rise in London.