Teenager stabbed at Notting Hill carnival

Festivities at the Notting Hill carnival were marred late on Monday evening after it emerged that a 15-year-old had suffered multiple stab wounds and was in a serious condition yesterday.

The youth was found collapsed on Monmouth Road at around 7.20pm on Monday after being stabbed. The motive of the attack was not clear.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "At 1920 police were called to Monmouth Road where a 15-year-old was recovered with stab wounds. He was taken to a central London hospital where his condition is described as serious."

Police earlier reported that the number of arrests at the carnival, Europe's largest street party, had been down on previous years. By 9pm, officers had made a total of 193 arrests on Sunday and Monday, compared with 227 for the same time last year. The majority of the arrests were thought to have been drug offences, although 38 people were detained at Victoria mainline station and released at the end of the carnival after police believed they had travelled in specially to create disorder and they were arrested "in order to prevent a breach of the peace".

It also emerged yesterday that a surprise appearance by singer Miss Dynamite was cancelled due to crowd safety fears. A spokesman from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said: "It's great that Carnival can attract top talent, but we need more time to make sure that such an event can pass off safely."