Former Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly, who is seeking to be the Tory candidate for Mayor of London, said: "'Bromley residents will be rightly worried about events on the High Street this afternoon.

"The police must be given the time, space, and backing to establish what has happened and bring the perpetrators to justice as swiftly as possible.

"In the meantime my thoughts are with those affected and their families.'

Forensics and police officers have been pictured at the scene of a stabbing in Bromley.

Four men have been taken to hospital with injuries, including one who is in critical condition.

A police cordon has been put in place and officers remain at the scene offering support to members of the local community.

Eyewitnesses, speaking to the Daily Mail, claim a fight broke out at KFC on Bromley High Street before spilling out into the street.

A witness described seeing “a lot of blood”.

A bus driver who arrived at the scene moments after the attack said the victims had been attacked with a “zombie knife”.

Forensic officers and a crime scene photographer were later seen working inside and outside the KFC restaurant on the High Street and there were evidence markers on the floor.

The fast food chain confirmed a “serious incident” took place inside their restaurant.

Vinnie Guadagnino, who lives on the high street, said he saw a huge police response to the incident with several cars and at least ten officers on foot.

He told the BBC: “Police cars kept coming, then within the next half hour there were multiple fire engines and people gathering.

“Then there was a drone overhead and helicopters and an air ambulance - so a massive emergency service response.”

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were called to reports of a stabbing on Bromley High Street at 2.19pm this afternoon.

Ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic and London’s Air Ambulance were dispatched to the scene, the service said.

Four patients were treated at the scene and three of them were taken to hospital.

A picture of the aftermath of the stabbing has been shared online.

It shows police and members of the London Fire Brigade in attendance and a section of the high street cordoned off.

Bystanders stand at the police cordon as officers begin their investigation into the incident.

The Mayor of London Lord Sadiq Khan has said “there is no place for this violence in London.

A spokesperson for the mayor said: “The Mayor is aware of the incident in Bromley in which four men have been stabbed, one of whom has been left in a critical condition.

“Thanks to swift work from Met police officers, seven men have already been arrested. There is not believed to be any wider threat to the public but police enquiries continue.

“There is no place for this violence in London and the Mayor is calling on anyone with information linked to this incident to contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. There is no honour in staying silent.”

Messages were put out on social media urging people not to go to Bromley because of the 'machete' knife attacks.

One user said he had been phoned by a friend alerting him to the stabbings.

Laila Cunningham has reacted to the “horrific attack” saying it has made her “angry”.

Writing on X she said: “what makes me so angry is that those in charge keep telling Londoners that everything is fine. That London is safe. That somehow what we are seeing with our own eyes isn’t really happening. It is happening.”

Police have said they do not believe there is a wider threat to the public following the incident.

Seven people remain in custody after being arrested following the stabbings.

Peter Fortune MP, Member of Parliament for Bromley and Biggin Hill, said : “I know that many local residents will have safety concerns.”