Boy, 15, ‘with everything to live for’ is stabbed to death while second is wounded in knife attack in front of horrified shoppers outside east London McDonald’s – sparking capital’s 116th murder probe of 2019
- Eyewitnesses said two teenagers were attacked in front of shocked onlookers
- One of the boys, 15, received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at 3.49pm
- A second boy, aged 15, was also found with stab injuries was treated in hospital
- The assault occurred outside Stratford Broadway at 3.20pm, Met Police said
By Rod Ardehali and Alexander Robertson For Mailonline
Published: 11:56 EDT, 10 October 2019 | Updated: 21:12 EDT, 10 October 2019
A 15-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death outside a McDonald’s restaurant in east London, sparking the capital’s 116th murder investigation of the year.
Witnesses reported seeing two teenagers attacked in front of shocked onlookers in Stratford, east London, on Thursday afternoon, with one of the pair receiving fatal stab wounds.
The teenagers were attacked on or after getting off a bus that had stopped close to the Stratford Shopping Centre, the force said.
Scroll down for video
Police and paramedics found the schoolboy with ‘critical injuries’ and despite battling to save his life he was pronounced dead at the scene near the shopping centre at 3.49pm (police treat the surviving teenager in Stratford)
Witnesses reported seeing two teenagers attacked in front of shocked onlookers in Stratford, east London, on Thursday afternoon, with one of the pair receiving fatal stab wounds
Friends rushed to help him and members of the public performed first aid at the scene, it added.
Police and paramedics found the schoolboy with ‘critical injuries’ and despite battling to save his life he was pronounced dead at the scene near the shopping centre at 3.49pm.
The force said his next of kin have been informed but formal identification and a post-mortem examination were yet to take place.
Pictured: The locations in which murder investigations have begun across the capital since the start of 2019
Pictured: Stratford Broadway in east London this afternoon, where a schoolboy was stabbed to death
The second boy, aged 15, was also found with stab injuries was taken to an east London hospital, where his injuries are said to be not life-threatening.
DCI Chris Soole, who is leading the investigation, branded it a ‘senseless attack’ and said a murder investigation had been launched.
He added: ‘First and foremost are thoughts are with this young man’s family and friends. They so tragically are having to come to terms with this terrible loss of life.
‘The victim of this stabbing was a schoolboy with his whole life ahead of him. He had everything to live for.
‘This was a senseless attack and we share the concern and alarm this murder will no doubt cause in the local community.
‘We will do everything we can to catch those involved and bring them to justice.’
Police and paramedics found the schoolboy with ‘critical injuries’ and despite battling to save his life he was pronounced dead at the scene near the shopping centre at 3.49pm
DCI Soole said the attack took place in a busy area and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
A witness to the incident said the attack happened outside a McDonald’s restaurant next to the entrance of the shopping centre.
‘At that moment there were not many people around him so I could see him all covered in blood. He was in pain and tried getting up,’ they said.
The teenagers were attacked on or after getting off a bus that had stopped close to the Stratford Shopping Centre, the force said
Police in Stratford, east London after a male teenager was fatally stabbed outside Stratford Broadway shortly after 3pm on Thursday
‘There were people around gathering. It was scary as you did not know if any of them could have had a knife too.’
A section 60 order, giving officers the power to stop and search in the area, has been implemented.
Witnesses should call the police on 101 quoting reference CAD 4644/01OCT19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Advertisement
