Knife crime has become commonplace in London, but in the one of the bloodiest nights in the capital three people stabbed to death in one incident have turned out to be Sikhs.

Two people, who were also Sikhs, have been arrested after the incident in Elmstead Road, Seven Kings, Redbridge, on Sunday evening.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman, a commander of Scotland Yard’s East Area in the Metropolitan Police’s basic command unit, said on Monday at the scene of the crime: “This investigation remains in its early stages and work continues to establish the exact sequence of events that led to this shocking incident.

“We believe the parties involved were from the Sikh community and known to each other. A fight has taken place which has escalated, resulting in three people being fatally attacked.

“Residents in and around the Seven Kings area will see extra officers on patrol; if you have any concerns, or information that could assist the investigation, please stop and speak to them.”

According to the Mail, “the three Sikh men stabbed to death in east London have been identified as builders from India who died after a drunken row over unpaid work turned violent.

“Narinder Singh, 26, Harinder Kumar, 22, and Baljit Singh, 34, were stabbed to death and found covered in blood. One was stabbed in the neck, shoulder and chest, while another was discovered having been smashed in the head with a hammer.

“Witnesses heard one of the victims shouting, ‘They killed me, help me!’ as friends and relatives rushed to the devastating scene.

(from left) Harinder Kumar, Narinder Singh and Baljit Singh

“A local businessman said the men were knifed to death after a large group of Indian men spilled out of a nearby restaurant, screaming and shouting in a furious drunken argument between two groups. “He said the men had been drinking whisky all afternoon and an argument had broken out over work.”

Detectives investigating the deaths of three men have made two arrests. Both men were nabbed on suspicion of murder, police said.

The murder investigation was launched after emergency services were “called at 07.38pm on Sunday 19 January, to the disturbance”.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found three men, aged in their 20s or 30s, suffering stab injuries. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers are in the process of establishing formal identification and informing all next of kin. Post-mortem examinations will be arranged in due course. A “thorough investigation led by homicide detectives from specialist crime is underway and crime scenes are in place in the area as officers continue a full forensic examination”, police said.

A Section 60 order was authorised for the whole of Redbridge borough until 0800hrs on Monday. Police explained that “Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows a police officer to stop and search a person without suspicion. ... It is set for a limited time and allows officers to stop and search people without reasonable grounds”.

The Tory peer, Rami Ranger, chairman of the British Sikh Association, tweeted: “Surprised and saddened to find Sikhs involved in gang fights.”