A man injured in a fight on Kensington Church Street remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition more than two weeks after the incident, police have confirmed.
The update, given on Saturday 24 October, comes 17 days after officers were called to the west London street on Tuesday 7 October, when a man was found with head injuries following a lunchtime altercation.
Police were alerted at around 12.05pm after the London Ambulance Service raised the alarm about the injury. Paramedics had themselves been called to reports of an assault at midday and reached the scene within seven minutes, treating the patient before taking him to hospital as a priority.
The man’s age has not been shared by police, and no further details about his identity have been released.
Two teenagers arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm
Two people, aged 17 and 18, were arrested nearby on suspicion of grievous bodily harm in the hours after the fight. The Metropolitan Police has not shared an update on the status of the two suspects since those arrests, and neither has been named.
An arrest on suspicion of an offence is not the same as being charged, and no charges have been reported in connection with the incident. Grievous bodily harm is among the most serious assault allegations in English law, covering really serious harm, and cases of that kind are dealt with at the Crown Court if charges follow.
Kensington Church Street runs north from Kensington High Street towards Notting Hill, lined with independent shops and restaurants, and it is usually busy with shoppers and visitors at lunchtime. The closure of the westbound carriageway on the day of the fight would have been felt well beyond the immediate scene, with drivers diverted around one of the borough’s main east-west routes.
The fight took place in one of Kensington’s busiest shopping streets, a short walk from Kensington High Street and close to the Royal Albert Hall. The westbound side of Kensington High Street was closed up to its junction with Kensington Church Street while emergency services dealt with the scene, with traffic backing up in the area.
What happened on 7 October
The timeline of that Tuesday lunchtime is now clear. At around midday, the London Ambulance Service received reports of an assault on Kensington Church Street and sent crews to the scene, arriving within seven minutes.
Officers were called at around 12.05pm after being alerted by ambulance crews about the injured man. He was found with head injuries and taken to hospital for treatment, where he has remained ever since.
Two teenagers were arrested nearby on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Since then, the investigation has continued, but police have given no further update on the suspects or on whether anyone will face charges.
Seventeen days on, condition unchanged
The latest confirmation that the victim remains in a critical but stable condition means his situation has not improved enough for him to leave hospital more than two weeks after the fight.
For residents and traders on Kensington Church Street, the incident was a rare burst of serious violence on a street better known for its antique shops, galleries and cafes. The road closure on the day brought traffic to a standstill along the western end of Kensington High Street, with queues building near the Royal Albert Hall.
Police enquiries into exactly what led to the fight are continuing. Anyone who was in the area at lunchtime on 7 October and saw what happened may still be able to help the investigation.
Elsewhere in London’s courts this week, a Royal Navy sailor has appeared at the Old Bailey over national security charges, while an Ealing man was jailed for life for murdering his partner. You can read more about the Royal Navy sailor’s Old Bailey appearance and the Ealing murder case on London Streets.
