FIVE youths have been arrested in connection with the murder of 29-year-old Jason Gale-Bent.

They were arrested in the Peckham area this morning and have been detained in police stations across south London.

They are aged 16 and 17-years-old.

Mr Gale-Bent died after a disturbance in Ludwick Mews, New Cross, on Sunday.

Police were called after residents reported hearing gunshots and seeing between 30 to 40 youths on bikes.

Mr Gale-Bent was with two other friends in Ludwick Mews at around 9pm before moving to sit on a wall in Woodpecker Path where he was stabbed, just 30 yards from his front door.

A post mortem at Greenwich mortuary found Mr Gale-Bent died from from a stab wound to the heart.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Valentine, of the Met's Operation Trident, who is leading the murder investigation, said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Woodpecker Path and Ludwick Mews, and who may have witnessed the tragic murder of Jason Gale-Bent to contact the incident room on 020 8247 4553 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Also on Sunday night, outside the Community Action Centre in Grove Street, Deptford, a large group of youths were seen on pedal cycles.

They fired a gunshot into the air before cycling off.

Also, a man on his moped was chased by 40 youths.

While trying to escape he crashed his bike and then tried to run away. The group of youths chased him to the doorway of an address in Deptford Wharf.

The man was attacked and stabbed. A firearm was also discharged at the location.

His injuries were not life-threatening and he has since been released from hospital.

Police are trying to establish whether the incidents are linked.

They are keeping an open mind regarding any motive for the attacks.