A fight on Upper Street which is thought to have led to three people being stabbed yesterday was between two groups of teenagers on bikes, a witness has said.

About eight teenage boys, including two on mopeds, were involved in the battle which took place in the middle of one of Islington’s busiest streets at midday.

Laura O’Mahony, 24, who saw the incident from her desk inside Hotblack Desiato, said: “They came round the corner onto the main road and there was lots of shouting.

“One boy on a moped was bleeding quite a lot from his face and there was blood all over the street.

“They were riding in to each other and hitting each other with their bikes.

“It was mainly a fight between two boys who were punching each other in the face.

“Something must have happened elsewhere before. It only lasted a couple of minutes and then they all went off in different directions – it wasn’t long before the police arrived.”

Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident and Islington Police are now conducting a “manhunt” for at least two more suspects they believe were involved.

They tweeted this morning: “Addresses searched last night for two wanted suspects allegedly involved in yesterday’s incident in Upper St. ‘Man Hunt’ continues.”

Those involved had all left by the time the police arrived at the scene, close to the junction with Gaskin Street, but the London Ambulance Service were soon called to two separate locations to reports of a man suffering stab injuries, and both were taken to hospital for treatment.

A third man made his own way to a north London hospital where he remains.

None of the three men’s injuries are thought to be life threatening.

This is the second time gang violence has spilled over in to Upper Street in two months after a fight took place between two men in March outside the town hall, one with an axe, the other with a knife.

A man also suffered gunshot wounds in an incident just days later in Essex Road, about 200 meters from yesterday’s fight.

A Met spokesman said: “Police were called at approx midday on Wednesday, May 14 to reports of a fight involving a number of people in Upper Street, Islington.

“Officers attended but all persons involved had left the scene.”

Islington police are investigating and ask anyone with information to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.