Hainault sword attack – latest: Stabbed ‘hero’ thanks people who saved his life as Daniel Anjorin fund hits £100k
More than £115,000 raised in just three days for family of the 14-year-old killed in samurai sword attack
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More than £115,000 has so far been raised for the family of Daniel Anjorin after the 14-year-old was killed in a samurai sword attack on a suburban east London street while on his way to school.
In less than two days, roughly 6,000 people have donated to the fundraiser, which was set up by a close friend of the schoolboy’s brother on Tuesday, the day of the horrific incident in Hainault.
The GoFundMe page pays tribute to Daniel in its message, describing him as “a very loved boy in the local community who was always full of happiness and joy and very much loved by everybody he came across”.
Meanwhile, a “hero” injured in the sword attack has spoken for the first time since the incident as he recovers in hospital, thanking those who saved his own life.
Henry De Los Rios Polania, 35, an IT engineer from Hainault, has shared a photo on social media from his hospital bed. He was described as a “hero” for protecting his family from the assailant.
On Thursday, Marcus Monzo, 36, of Newham, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with Daniel’s murder.
Daniel didn’t hear warnings before attack as he had headphones in, says neighbour
Daniel Anjorin’s next door neighbour told how she and others had tried to shout warnings to him before he was attacked but he could not hear them because he had headphones in.
The attacker initially confronted Aiste Dabasinskaite on Tuesday morning before attacking the 14-year-old.
She said: “We were shouting and waving towards Daniel... [but] he had his headphones in so he wouldn’t hear us. It just happened right before our eyes, it was horrible.”
She also extended her condolences to the family.
“It’s horrible isn’t it, poor boy, I feel really bad for his family,” she said.
“As my next door neighbour we used to say hello and wave at each other in the mornings when he left for school.”
On the outpouring of support from the local community, she said: “It’s lovely, it’s really nice, we’ve had people coming from all over, coming and putting flowers down. They’re really supportive, we’ve got a great community here, we never expected something like this to happen.”
Bancroft’s alumni group sends condolences to family of ‘talented, gentle’ Daniel
The Bancroft’s alumni group has sent its condolences to the family of “talented, gentle” Daniel.
Amanda Campbell, Chair of the Old Bancroftians' Association, said in a statement: “On Wednesday 1 May, the announcement was made that Daniel Anjorin, a pupil in the Lower 4th, had been tragically killed in a knife attack.
“On behalf of the Old Bancroftians' Association, I would like to add our heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family, friends and the whole school community on this devastatingly sad news.
“To lose such a young member of the Bancroft’s community has been hard to digest, and particularly when you read what a talented, gentle young man he was.
“It is at these difficult times a community needs to support and care for each other and share in the happy memories of a life taken so young.”
Daniel’s family is in shock, says neighbour who witnessed attack
A neighbour who witnessed the sword attack said Daniel’s family was in shock.
“Yesterday I spoke to the father and he was shocked,” she said, adding: “He had tears. We know them, just hello and hi, seeing the kids around, a very nice family.”
The neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said the events of Tuesday morning, which she saw unfold from her window, had impacted her daily life. “Since this happened, I don’t even want to go outside,” she said. “I can’t even sleep during the night.”
She also praised the emergency services for their swift response.
Monzo remanded in custody at court charged with murder of schoolboy
A man has been remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with the samurai sword murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin in east London.
Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, 36, appeared in court with four prison officers on Thursday morning. Wearing a grey tracksuit, he spoke to confirm his name.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldpsring remanded the 36-year-old, of Newham, in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday if a hearing is not available on Friday.
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