The 19-year-old man stabbed to death in Stoke Newington last night "knew a gang where after him".

The attack around midnight on Yoakly Road, just off Church Street, was the latest violent murder in an area plagued by gangs.

Cops found the man, named locally as as Michael McCarthy, dead at the scene; no-one has been arrested in connection with the death.

There are reports he told his girlfriend a gang were after him and he is a father.

Police say a silver vehicle left the scene shortly after the incident. A post-mortem examination is due to take place later.

The dead man's next-of-kin have been informed, police said.

Det Ch Insp John Macdonald said:

"The victim was stabbed following an altercation with two male suspects.

We also know that a silver vehicle left the scene shortly after the incident, travelling along Yoakley Road into Church Street."

Holly Street boys - DNA Boys

Two gangs, the Holly Street Boys and The DNA Boys, made up of mainly Turkish youths, have repeatedly clashed with deadly consequences.

In April a 17-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after being knifed in a mass gang brawl on Stoke Newington High Street

Several youths have died in gang related violence in the area.

In December 2007 16-year-old David Nowak was knifed to death in a mass gang fight outside a community centre on Farleigh Road just off the high street.

The gangs were said to be armed with knives, hammers and wooden bats. David was affiliated with the DNA Boys. There were a series of running fights in the streets and David was stabbed once, injuring his kidney and liver.

A few streets away on Lawrence Buildings, also just off the high street, 17-year-old Etem Celebi was shot dead as he sat on a wall with friends the month before - the Stamford Hill gang was implicated in that murder.