Boy, 16, stabbed to death after ‘ambush by balaclava gang on hire bikes’

A second boy, 16, was rushed to hospital where his injuries were deemed non-life threatening

The force was alerted to the stabbing on Seward Street, Clerkenwell (Google Maps)

A 16-year-old boy has been fatally stabbed in central London after being ambushed by a gang wearing balaclavas and riding hired bicycles, witnesses say.

Police were alerted to the stabbing in Clerkenwell at around 10.30pm on Tuesday, where they found two 16-year-old boys with knife wounds. Officers provided emergency first aid until the arrival of paramedics and doctors from London Air Ambulance.

One of the boys was pronounced dead at the scene while the second was rushed to an east London hospital where his injuries were deemed non-life threatening.

One witness said she saw the boy who was later killed go to cross the road before five boys, mainly on hired bicycles, ran toward him and began attacking him.

“The attackers were wearing hoodies and had face coverings,” Khadra Hussein, 40, a mother-of-six told the Evening Standard.

“The victim... was laying in the road and two people ran to help him with his injuries and the attackers scattered,” she continued.

“A boy was next to the victim crying ‘he is my friend, he is my friend, he was sobbing. Then the police and paramedics showed up and I saw them working on him, it’s so sad.”

A second witness told of her horror after she overheard a boy yell out as he was surrounded and attacked.

“There was a boy shouting: ‘I’ve been stabbed’ over and over,” the mother told the Standard. “It made our blood run cold.

“A group of boys attacked him, some on bikes. The paramedics worked on him for at least 20 minutes but from his cries we knew it was very serious. I couldn’t sleep, that poor boy.”

Officers have launched a murder investigation into the attack, led by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. A crime scene remains in place and there have been no arrests as yet, police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran, who leads the investigation, said: “A 16-year-old boy with his whole life ahead of him has been killed as a result of senseless violence.

“Our thoughts are with his family as they come to terms with this terrible loss. We will do all we can to support them.

“As we work to piece together what happened in Seward Street last night, I appeal to any members of the public who were in the area, who saw or heard anything unusual or who have any information at all about what took place, to come forward.

“I would also appeal to anyone who was driving nearby, particularly along either Seward Street or Central Street, to check any dash cam footage that might have captured the incident or other significant activity.

“We know there were also members of the public who came to the aid of both boys after they were assaulted. Some did not provide their details to officers at the scene but we would very much like to speak to them.”

Reporters at the scene said a police tent had been erected over the spot of the fatal stabbing, while forensics teams scanned the scene for possible evidence.

Anyone with information is urged to call 101, with the reference 7708/21DEC. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.