A student in his 20s has been stabbed outside a university campus.
The young man was attacked outside the entrance of the University of East London’s (UEL) Docklands Campus in University Way, Newham, at 9pm last night.
Witnesses say he was rushed to hospital by paramedics where his condition was said to be “stable”.
Music management undergraduate Donna Ashby said, “It is never good when someone injured is taken off that quickly.”
The 22-year-old witnessed “three first responder cars, two police cars and an ambulance” arrive at 9.15pm from her halls of residence, located a three-and-a-half minute walk away.
“Everyone got out of their vehicles and ran over to security and a crowd of people where the person was,” she said.
“Within minutes the man was put on a stretcher and then rushed off in an ambulance.
“We noticed that the police started searching on the road that leads to the university entrance.”
She added: “It looked like they found a jacket.”
Visiting friend, and former UEL student Amy Keeley, said at first there was confusion about what was going on.
She said: “We thought maybe it was drugs related or something like that.
“Then one of the groups of friends we were with said maybe they have been stabbed and we said ‘no, that wouldn’t happen at university’.”
The 23-year-old, who also lived on the same university campus until last year, said security on site was “good” but “it is a close-knit community so it is a bit worrying.”
The Docklands campus, located near City Airport, houses 1,200 students.
Following the stabbing, 200 students who gathered outside were asked by police to temporarily go to SportsDock - a £21 million sports and academic centre used by training atheletes in the 2012 London Olympics - while they searched the area.
A UEL spokesman confirmed a student at the university had been the victim of the stabbing.
He said: “This is a highly unusual incident and our immediate concern is to support the injured student – who is currently being treated in hospital - and his family.”
“Instructions have been given to release CCTV footage to the police on request and we are making available witnesses to the police.”
“The incident happened off campus and we are confident that the campus remains a safe space to study and work.
He added a hotline had beeen set up for concerned students and staff and the university’s health and wellbeing team were on standby for support.
A police spokeswoman confirmed they attended a stabbing at the university.
She said: “London Ambulance Service was called to the scene. A man in his 20s was found with stab wounds.
“He is at an east London hospital. There have been no arrests.”
Did you see what happened? Contact Kat Hopps on 020 8477 3789 or email kat.hopps@archant.co.uk
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