Two men have been stabbed to death within the space of two hours in Camden, north London.

One victim, believed to be in his late teens, died in Bartholomew Road after he was stabbed at about 20:30 GMT on Tuesday.

Police were then called to Malden Road soon after 22:10, following reports of a disturbance, where they found a man with serious knife wounds. The Met said they were trying to identify if the killings are linked.

The second man, thought to be about 20, was given first aid but died at the scene near the junction with Marsden Street.

Denise Arnold, 63, who lives in Malden Road, said she saw “a large group of people” who were trying to resuscitate the victim of the second stabbing. “There was a lot of wailing and screaming,” she said.

Following the deaths, additional police patrols were sent to Camden overnight and a Section 60 order – giving them powers to stop and search people – authorised across the borough until 07:00.

A police spokesperson murder investigations had been launched but no arrests had been made and “urgent inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances”.

Sixteen people have been stabbed to death in London since the start of 2018. Five of those have been teenagers.

Camden Police were also called to another stabbing on Tuesday afternoon where a man who is believed to be in his 40s was attacked in Kilburn High Road shortly before 15:30. He was taken to hospital by London Air Ambulance and is in a stable condition. The force have not said if they believe the attack was linked to the two murders.

A 19-year-old man who lives near Bartholomew Road said the stabbings were becoming “everyday behaviour for these youngsters”. “It’s just normal now. It’s getting to the point where it’s getting ridiculous.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was “desperately saddened” by the deaths. “I am asking the prime minister and the home secretary to urgently meet with me to discuss how we can work together to tackle the evil of knife attacks.”