Growing calls are calling for the Notting Hill Carnival to be taken off the streets after a 32-year-old mother and Gordon Ramsay-promoted chef died from their injuries – after the number of arrests at the west London parade reached its highest level in five years

First came the long weekend of violence and unrest, quickly followed by a week of predictable debate and procrastination. And then yesterday came news of a devastating aftermath of the annual event that is now synonymous with misery and carnage.

She is former actress and model Cher Maximen, 32 – who was stabbed to death in front of her three-year-old daughter on the so-called 'family day' at the Notting Hill Carnival last Sunday – who died yesterday morning.

That was tragic enough, but she was not the only one. At the same time, police announced that 41-year-old chef Mussie Imnetu, a former protégé of Gordon Ramsay, had succumbed to his injuries.

In a separate incident, he lost consciousness on Bank Holiday Monday after suffering a headbutt in Queensway, near Fairgrounds, and died on Friday evening.

The criminal police have launched murder investigations in both cases. This has led to calls for the 58-year-old carnival, which is becoming increasingly difficult to manage, to be ended in its current form. Police and politicians want to ban it from the streets.

Chef Mussie Imnetu (left), 41, a former protégé of Gordon Ramsay, also succumbed to his injuries

Police officers can be seen at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25

Deputy Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “We are tired of saying the same words every year. We are tired of telling families that their loved ones are seriously injured or worse. We are tired of seeing crime scenes at the fair.”

Yesterday, Ms Maximen was remembered as a “kind, caring, funny person”. She was innocently caught up in a fight between rival groups of men when she was stabbed in the groin. She suffered cardiac arrest, a collapsed lung and lost 20 blood units.

Conservative MP for Harrow East Bob Blackman said: “This should be the last Notting Hill Carnival to take place on the street. After these horrific deaths and other acts of violence we have seen this year, the event cannot continue in its current form.”

“The event must be moved to a park in central London or another location where the police can more easily locate the troublemakers and control the crowd.”

“The Conservatives in the London Assembly have called for this before. It is a terrible shame that they have not been listened to.”

Over the weekend, 349 arrests were made: 72 for possession of an offensive weapon, one for possession of a firearm (although police later reportedly confiscated three weapons), 13 for sexual offences, 53 for assaulting emergency workers and 49 for drug possession.

Thousands of people from all over the world crowd the streets during the Notting Hill Carnival

Pictured: Visitors to the Notting Hill Carnival on August 25

In addition, five stabbings were reported – in one of them a caustic substance was used.

Rick Prior, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said the event had “outgrown its current scope”. He added: “Alternative venues, be it Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, should be considered to enable a safer police operation. We had officers isolated at the weekend who were unable to move because they were surrounded and penned in.”

Last week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the carnival was part of the “fabric of the city” and praised its “fantastic scenes” and the “amazing way” it brings communities together.

His rival in the race for London mayor last year, Conservative Susan Hall, countered: “He is quick to criticise far-right unrest – which is of course wrong – but when it comes to stabbings, gun possession and drug taking on his doorstep, he is embarrassingly silent.”

Yesterday, Mr Khan described the violence as “totally unacceptable” but gave no indication of any specific new, strict restrictions.

“It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu were killed in the attacks over the holiday weekend,” he said.

“This violence is shocking, totally unacceptable and a betrayal of the values ​​that Carnival was originally created to celebrate.”

Investigators are now appealing for information from patrons of the Dr Power restaurant in Queensway who tried to prevent the attack on Mr Imnetu.

Top chef Mussie Imnetu (pictured) was found unconscious on Queensway on Monday evening

Police released a photograph of Mr Imnetu on the day of the attack, wearing a blue T-shirt and black jeans. He later bought a white baseball cap.

Chef Imnetu poses with Dutch football coach Clarence Seedorf

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie said: “Mussie's family, friends and colleagues in London, Dubai, Sweden and Eritrea are heartbroken.”

“Our investigations are well advanced but we are very keen to hear from anyone who can reconstruct Mussie's movements between 1pm, when he left the Arts Club in Dover Street, W1, and his arrival at Dr Power Restaurant in Queensway at 10.30pm.”

“The attack occurred around 11:20 p.m. Customers on site attempted to stop the attack. We need to speak to these people and I urge them to contact us.”

He said officials would be outside the restaurant tomorrow night to hand out fundraising brochures and talk to locals.

Commander Charmain Brenyah, the Met's spokesman for the carnival, said: “The news of Cher's tragic death is devastating for her family, the wider community and everyone involved in running the Notting Hill Carnival.”

“Carnival is meant to bring people together for a positive celebration. The fact that it ended in tragic deaths and other serious acts of violence will sadden everyone involved.”

In a statement, the organizers of the Notting Hill Carnival said they were “shocked” by the two deaths: “We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which violate all the values ​​of the carnival and the millions of people who come to celebrate it.”