A 30-year-old man is in hospital after being stabbed 15 times near Hollow Ponds boating lake.

Police were called to the scene by the Log Cabin fast food hut in Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, at around 5.40am this morning after being alerted by an ambulance crew.

The man was found at the scene with slash injuries to his back, abdomen and left leg.

Despite the number of wounds he is not in a life-threatening condition and may even be released from hospital later today.

Police say he is of eastern European origin and has only been able to speak to them through an interpreter, which has led to some difficulties in establishing exactly what happened.

Officers say they are linking the incident with another reported disturbance that happened between 5am and 5.30am in Chelmsford Road, Walthamstow.

It is thought the man may have been attacked in the street, led from there to his car in nearby Lennox Road and then driven to Hollow Ponds.

Much of the area remains closed off to the public this lunchtime.

A police spokeswoman said: "The area around the Log Cabin remains cordoned off whilst police investigate the circumstances of the assault."

The incident is the 19th stabbing in Leytonstone made public this year.

And last month a 33-year-old from the Cathall area was knifed to death in neighbouring Leyton.

A Guardian investigation in November revealed that the number of stabbings in the borough is far higher than police had previously publicly acknowledged.

Anyone with any information about the attack is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Stephen Mair at Waltham Forest Police on 020 3276 0973.

Or, to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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