Man, 25, stabbed in Islington phone & bike robbery

Key Points

• A 25-year-old man was stabbed in Essex Road, Islington, North London, at around 7pm (19:00hrs) on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
• The victim was discovered with stab wounds, treated on the street by emergency services, and rushed to a major trauma centre where he remains in a potentially life-threatening or life-changing condition.
• Police are investigating reports that the stabbing occurred during an attempted robbery of the victim’s phone and bicycle.
• No arrests have been made, and enquiries are ongoing.​
• The Metropolitan Police (Met Police) have issued a public appeal for information, quoting reference 6609/28JAN, via 101, online, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.​
• London Ambulance Service (LAS) was called at 7.01pm on January 28, dispatching an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer, and a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance.​
• Mobile phone thefts in London have surged, with figures rising from 91,481 in 2019 to 117,211 in 2024 per a Freedom of Information request, and further increases noted into 2025.
• Islington saw a 39% rise in mobile phone thefts in the 12 months to November 2024, making it a hotspot alongside areas like Westminster and Camden.​
• Only 1% of phone thefts in London result in a charge or conviction.​
• Hotspots for phone thefts include the West End, around Pall Mall, Clarence House, St James’s Palace, at the Piccadilly-Haymarket border, Westminster (221 per 100,000 population), Camden (72 per 100,000), and Hackney/Islington (around 39 per 100,000).

Islington, (North London News) January 30, 2026 – A 25-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed during an alleged robbery attempt targeting his phone and bike on Essex Road. Emergency services responded swiftly around 7pm on Wednesday, January 28, treating the victim on-site before transferring him to a major trauma centre, where his injuries are described as potentially life-threatening or life-changing. The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation but report no arrests at this stage.

What Happened on Essex Road?

The incident unfolded at approximately 19:00hrs on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, when the 25-year-old victim was found suffering from stab wounds on Essex Road in Islington. As reported by the Evening Standard, the man was discovered during what police believe was an attempted theft of his bicycle and mobile phone.

The Met Police stated:

“Police are investigating after a man was stabbed at around 19:00hrs on Wednesday, 28 January, in Essex Road, Islington. Officers attended with paramedics and a 25-year-old man was treated for stab wounds. His injuries were believed to be potentially life threatening or life-changing. He was taken to hospital, where he remains. Detectives are investigating reports that the victim was stabbed during an attempted robbery of his bicycle and phone. Our enquiries continue. No arrests have been made at this stage.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:

“We were called at 7.01pm yesterday (28 January) to reports of a stabbing in Essex Road, Islington. We sent an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer to the scene. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance. We treated a patient at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.”​

Yahoo News Canada coverage, drawing from UK sources, echoed these details, noting the victim was treated on the street by emergency services.​

What Is the Victim’s Condition?

The 25-year-old remains in hospital with injuries described consistently across reports as “potentially life-threatening or life-changing.” The Evening Standard highlighted that he was “left ‘fighting for life’,” underscoring the severity.

No further updates on his condition have been released as of January 29, 2026, with police and medical services prioritising his treatment. London’s Air Ambulance involvement indicates the critical nature of the response.

Who Is Investigating and What Do Police Say?

The Metropolitan Police are leading the probe, appealing for witnesses. They specified:

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or online, quoting reference 6609/28JAN. Information can also be provided anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.”

CrimeLdn on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) reported:

“A 25-year-old man has been rushed to hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition after being stabbed during an alleged phone robbery.”

An Instagram post from a crime monitoring account quoted the Met Police directly on the timeline and robbery motive.

No suspects have been named or arrested, and a crime scene was established.​

Why Was a Phone and Bike Targeted?

Reports indicate the stabbing stemmed from an attempted robbery of the victim’s phone and bicycle. This aligns with rising street crime trends in Islington.

Essex Road has seen prior violence, including a 2025 double stabbing near a kebab shop and the 2021 murder of flower seller Tony Eastlake, though unrelated to this case.

How Does This Fit London’s Phone Theft Epidemic?

Mobile phone thefts in London have escalated dramatically, from 91,481 in 2019 to 117,211 in 2024, per a Freedom of Information request cited by the Evening Standard. The National reported over 185,000 phones stolen in 2024 alone, a 36% rise in the year to November 2024.

Islington experienced a 39% increase in phone thefts, ranking high with about 39 incidents per 100,000 population. Other hotspots include Westminster (33-221 per 100,000), Camden (48%, 72 per 100,000), Hackney (44%, 39 per 100,000), and areas like Pall Mall, Clarence House, St James’s Palace, Piccadilly-Haymarket.

Neil Garratt, leader of the Conservatives in the London Assembly, told The National:

“These days, it seems everyone knows someone who’s suffered phone theft, or suffered it themselves. It’s an epidemic.”​

Commander Owain Richards of the Met Police noted efforts using Find My Phone data to recover over 750 devices from January to June 2024, with increased patrols in hotspots like Westminster.​

Just 1% of thefts lead to charges, exacerbating the issue. Thieves often use illegally modified bikes and sticky gloves for high-speed snatches.

What Are the Broader Crime Trends in Islington?

Islington’s crime profile includes spikes in phone-related offences amid London’s overall rise. Holloway Express noted 116,000 thefts in 2024, causing alarm locally.

Past Essex Road incidents, like the October 2025 mass brawl stabbing a 17-year-old, highlight recurring knife crime. A kebab shop worker, Mr Gizcu, described a prior fight:

“This was nothing to do with us. There was not a single drop of blood in the kebab shop.”​

Unrelated cases, such as the December 2025 stabbing death of 15-year-old Adam Henry on Westbourne Road, underscore youth violence, with Tsidi Winion charged with murder.

What Should Witnesses Do?

Police urge anyone with information to come forward immediately. Contact options remain open 24/7 via 101 (quoting 6609/28JAN), the Met’s online form, or Crimestoppers anonymously.

What Measures Are in Place Against Phone Thefts?

Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged a crackdown, while opposition Conservatives call it an “epidemic.” Met Police deploy analytics, plainclothes officers, and hotspot patrols.​

In 2024, recoveries reached 750+ devices using tech like Find My Phone. Gangs have been jailed, e.g., two men for 17 years in a 2023 City stabbing during a phone snatch.​​

Community Impact and Calls for Action

Residents express concern over escalating street robberies, particularly in North London. This stabbing amplifies fears, with Essex Road’s history adding to unease.

Police have increased presence in similar areas post-incidents. Garratt’s comments reflect public sentiment: widespread personal connections to victims.

As enquiries continue, the focus remains on the victim’s recovery and apprehending those responsible. This case exemplifies the urgent need to tackle London’s phone theft crisis.