Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

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

Marcus Monzo arrives at court charged with murder of schoolboy Daniel Anjorin in Hainault

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.

Man injured in sword attack thanks emergency services for saving his life

A man injured in the sword attack in east London has thanked the emergency services and his family for saving his life.

Henry De Los Rios Polania, 35, an IT engineer from Hainault, is currently in hospital after being stabbed in his home on Tuesday morning.

Mr De Los Rios Polania was described by his sister, Jessica De Los Rios, 31, as a “hero” for protecting his family from the assailant.

Samuel Montgomery reports:

Man injured in sword attack thanks emergency services for saving his life

Henry De Los Rios Polania was stabbed at his home in east London on Tuesday morning.

Tara Cobham3 May 2024 12:13

Daniel’s family is in shock, says neighbour who witnessed attack

A neighbour who witnessed the sword attack said the family of 14-year-old victim Daniel Anjorin 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.

Flowers near the scene in Hainault
Flowers near the scene in Hainault (PA Wire)
Tara Cobham3 May 2024 11:00

Sword attack victim ‘had headphones in’ and did not hear warnings, says neighbour

Daniel Anjorin’s next door neighbour has told of 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.”

Artwork left with flowers near the scene in Hainault, north east London, where 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday
Artwork left with flowers near the scene in Hainault, north east London, where 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday (Samuel Montgomery/PA Wire)
Tara Cobham3 May 2024 10:22

Watch: Marcus Monzo arriving at court charged with murder of schoolboy

Marcus Monzo arrives at court charged with murder of schoolboy Daniel Anjori in Hainault
Tara Cobham3 May 2024 09:40

Police call for witnesses as investigation into killing of Daniel Anjorin continues

Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, who is leading the investigation into the killing of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin in Hainault, said previously: “This is an incredibly tragic incident that has resulted in a young boy losing his life and his family devastated. On behalf of the family, I would ask that their privacy is respected.

“This is a complex investigation due to the number of crime scenes, forensic evidence, hours of CCTV footage and witnesses we need to speak to. I know that many people will want answers and we are working to provide them as soon as we can. I would also echo previous calls for patience as my officers carry out a painstaking investigation to deliver justice for Daniel, his family, those injured and the wider community.

“We are starting to build a picture of what happened on Tuesday and I want to thank everyone who has come forward to share dashcam, doorbell and mobile phone footage with us.

“Likewise, thank you to witnesses, who were no doubt terrified by what they saw, and who have made vital contributions to our investigation. Anyone who has not yet spoken to police and has any information should contact us as soon as possible.”

Tara Cobham3 May 2024 08:20

Tributes flood in for schoolboy killed in Hainault sword attack as tens of thousands raised for family

Tributes have been flooding in for the schoolboy “who was always full of happiness and joy” after he was stabbed to death in a samurai sword attack on a suburban east London street.

Tens of thousands of pounds have already been raised for the family of Daniel Anjorin, 14, who was on his way to school on Tuesday when he was killed with a sword in Hainault.

A close friend of Daniel’s family said the teenager was “very much loved by everybody he came across... meant so much to a lot of people and will be dearly missed”.

Tributes flood in for boy killed in Hainault attack as thousands raised for family

Daniel Anjorin, 14, was on his way to school when he was stabbed to death on a suburban street

Tom Watling3 May 2024 07:00

Daniel Anjorin fundraiser surpasses £45,000

A fundraiser set up by a friend of the late Daniel Anjorin’s family has surpassed £45,000 just a day after it was created.

The fund was created as a means of sending money to Daniel’s family after he died on Tuesday.

The goal of the fund is to raise £60,000. You can view the GoFundMe page here.

Tom Watling3 May 2024 06:00

Local groups pay tribute to Daniel Anjorin

A group called Nigerians in the UK have paid tribute to 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who died on Tuesday.

Tom Watling3 May 2024 05:00

Hainault stabbing suspect appears in court charged with murder of schoolboy Daniel Anjorin

Marcus Monzo, 36, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, having also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

Wearing a grey tracksuit, he appeared with four prison officers and spoke to confirm his name.

Hainault stabbing suspect appears in court charged with murder of schoolboy

Marcus Monzo appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after fatal incident in east London

Tom Watling3 May 2024 03:00

Daniel Anjorin fundraiser surpasses £45,000

A fundraiser set up by a friend of the late Daniel Anjorin’s family has surpassed £45,000 just a day after it was created.

The fund was created as a means of sending money to Daniel’s family after he died on Tuesday.

The goal of the fund is to raise £60,000. You can view the GoFundMe page here.

Tom Watling3 May 2024 01:00

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in