Knife crime campaigner DJ Ironik stabbed in Highgate

In an incident befitting his stage name, the rap artist and anti-knife campaigner DJ Ironik was stabbed near his Highgate home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Ironik, real name James Charters, was returning home from a gig in Southend-on-Sea when he was approached by two men wearing dark clothes and hooded tops. The men stabbed Charters in the buttock, seized jewellery and fled the scene. The jewellery was later recovered, but no arrests have yet been made.

Charters was later treated in hospital for the stab wound and discharged yesterday afternoon. The rapper Tweeted, "Its been a crazy last couple of days and this whole experience is quite surreal. But they say what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." He also thanked fans for their messages of support.

A spokesman added the artist was "understandably shaken" by the attack.  DJ Ironik has featured on three Top 10 hits in recent years, "Stay With Me", "Tiny Dancer" with Sir Elton John, and "I Got Soul", released in support of the charity War Child. Ironik is a Prince's Trust ambassador and a prominent anti-knife crime campaigner.

Knife crime in Highgate is still relatively unusual - the Metopolitan Police Crime Mapping page shows that violent crime has decreased from 423 to 410.7 (a decrease 2.9%) in the last quarter compared to the same time period last year. Reported incidents of  antisocial behaviour have, however, increased from 1269.7 to 1539.7, an increase of 21.3% compared to last year. The overall incidence of crime is rated as average.

DJ Ironik is now reportedly resting and recovering at home. "It could of been much worse so thank God it weren't," he Tweeted to fans yesterday. Highgatepeople wishes him all the best.

 Image: garryknight