A MAN stabbed to death in south London last Sunday (20) has been named by police.
Arunesh Thangarajah, 28, was found with fatal stab wounds between Upper Green East and Montrose Gardens in Mitcham in the early hours of Sunday. Despite the efforts by paramedics and police, he later died at the scene.
Manimaran Selliah, 44, has been charged with Thangarajah’s murder. As Eastern Eye went to press, he was expected to appear at Wimbledon magistrates court on Tuesday (22).
London mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed he was in touch with the Metropolitan Police about the investigation and said they would do everything they could to bring the perpetrator to justice. “My thoughts are with the victim’s family,” Khan added.
It is understood Thangarajah is the 65th person to be murdered in the capital since the start of 2018.
The spike in knife crime has led to outrage across the country, with an urgent investigation into the recent surge in violent crime being launched by members of the London Assembly earlier this month.
The Met Police assistant commissioner Helen Ball said last Tuesday (15) that murder rates in April and May were lower than in February and March, which led to hopes that the violent crimes rates were “stabilising”.
“It looks as if… the increase of this crime type is stabilising. Morale is high because we are starting to see some results,” Ball said.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)