A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal stabbing in Thornton Heath.

Part of the High Street was closed after police were called at 8.30pm yesterday and Mujaahid Wilson, 20, was found with a stab wound.

FROM YESTERDAY: Police shut Thornton Heath High Street after 'stabbing'

London’s Air Ambulance attended and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.09pm.

Mr Wilson's next of kin have been informed, and friends - including prominent members of the south London grime and rap scene - have paid tribute to the victim on Twitter.

He is understood to be known by friends as Tiny Sneaky, or TS.

Formal identification is yet to take place. A post-mortem examination will be held later today at St George's Hospital in Tooting.

A 23-year-old man was arrested close to the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at a south London police station.

Police cordoned off a stretch of Thornton Heath High Street for several hours following the stabbing last night. Drops of what appeared to be blood could be seen on the pavement.

Detectives believe Mr Wilson arrived in High Street in a Fiat Punto shortly before 8.30pm, parking opposite Mamma's Pizza takeway and approaching a group of "nine or 10 men" gathered outside.

An argument is thought to have broken out, escalating into a fight that spilled out into the road, forcing cars to stop.

The fight ended when Mr Wilson was stabbed.

A suspect wearing dark clothes and face mask, described as black and aged between 18 and 25, is believed to have run off at speed down nearby Gisland Road.

A large group of young people were said to have congregated in the High Street after the man's death last night.

Detectives have appealed for any witnesses to come forward, and are keeping an "open mind" about the motive for the attack.

Your Local Guardian:

Gisland Road, near to where the stabbing took place, was cordoned off this morning

Detective Chief Inspector Will Reynolds said police were especially keen to speak to the driver of a "dark Mercedes-type car" that was parked outside Mamma's Pizza at the time of the stabbing, as well as the driver of a moped parked outside the takeaway.

DCI Reynolds, who is leading the murder investigation, said: "It is clear the victim argued with one suspect, who we believe must have been known to him, and the rest of the group were not involved.

"They are being treated as witnesses and we would ask them to contact us in confidence."

"This is a busy area and there were lots of people around and buses and traffic at 8.30pm last night. I would ask any witnesses to please come forward."

Shortly after 9.30am today two young men approached the cordon outside Mamma's Pizza.

One opened a bottle of what appeared to be brandy and began pouring it over the pavement in an apparent tribute, before being approached by two police officers and walking away.

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Gisland Road also remained shut off this morning.

Adil Islam, who works in the Niazi and Sons off-licence in High Street, said he believed the man who died was a regular customer who often came into the shop with his friends.

Sleeks, a member of the Thornton Heath rap group Section Boyz, tweeted "RIP my young soldier TS" just after 10.30pm last night, while Mobo award-winning grime artist Stormzy appeared to refer to the stabbing in a series of tweets.

An online page set up last night to raise funds for Mr Wilson's funeral costs had reached more than £7,000 in donations this afternoon.

Members of the public could be seen laying flowers at the side of the road outside Mamma's Pizza this afternoon.

Your Local Guardian:

The scene outside Mamma's Pizza in High Street this afternoon

A passer-by this morning told the Croydon Guardian: "It's a shame, because it's another young life lost. And what they're going to call it is black-on-black crime, like there's isn't any other crime. It's a stupid name.

"Crime is crime, murder is murder. It's just one individual against another, for some stupid unknown reason."

Another passer-by, walking past the police cordon, said: "It's just too sad. This is just too sad."

Shasha Khan, a former Green Party candidate for Croydon North, witnessed forensics "dusting a moped outside the pizza takeaway" as he went past the crime scene this morning.

Staff at nearby shops were mostly in the dark about what took place last night.

An employee at SS Halal Butchers said: "I just heard it from people somebody got killed. That's all I know."

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8721 4205 or if you wish to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Do you know more about this story? Email chris.baynes@newsquest.co.uk or call 0208 722 6351.