Police launch murder investigation after teenager, 14, is stabbed to death outside a pizza shop in east London
- Boy, 14, knifed to death outside an east London pizza shop in broad daylight
- Emergency services were called to Barking Road in East Ham, Newham, at 4pm
- But victim was sadly pronounced dead shortly before 4.30pm despite efforts
A murder investigation has been launched after a 14-year-old boy was knifed to death outside a pizza shop in east London in broad daylight.
Emergency services were called to Barking Road in East Ham, Newham, shortly before 4pm on Friday to reports of a stabbing at a Zzetta restaurant.
Despite the efforts of paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance, the victim was pronounced dead shortly after 4.30pm.
The Metropolitan Police said efforts were under way to inform the victim’s next of kin
Anyone with information is urged to contact the force on 101 quoting reference CAD 5134/23Apr. Alternatively witnesses can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emergency services were called to Barking Road in East Ham, Newham, shortly before 4pm on Friday to reports of a stabbing
The Metropolitan Police said efforts were under way to inform the victim’s next of kin.
The victim is the eleventh and youngest teenager to be knifed to death in the capital this year.
Police say patrols are being steped up in the area.
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘A murder investigation has been launched following a fatal stabbing in Newham.
‘Police were called at 3.56pm to reports of an assault in Barking Road.
‘Officers attended with medics from the London Ambulance Service and the London Air Ambulance. They found a 14-year-old male who had been stabbed.
‘Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead shortly after 4.30pm. Efforts are under way to inform the victim’s next of kin.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the killing, adding: ‘I am in touch with the Deputy Met Commissioner and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends.’
He urged witnesses to come forward, saying: ‘This appalling incident happened on a busy street in broad daylight, so if you saw or know anything then please don’t stay silent.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact the force on 101 quoting reference CAD 5134/23Apr.
Alternatively witnesses can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
It was revealed in February that knife crime offences have doubled in just six years to go above 50,000 for the first time since records began.
The victim is the eleventh and youngest teenager to be knifed to death in the capital this year
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that offences involving knives or sharp instruments rose by six per cent from 47,388 to 50,019 in England and Wales in the year before the first Covid-19 lockdown was imposed.
Of these offences, 22,012 (44 per cent) were for assault with injury or assault with intent to cause serious harm, and 21,961 (44 per cent) were used in a robbery.
Recent figures also show that knife crime soared by 25 per cent after the first lockdown was eased last summer and have sparked concerns of an ‘eruption’ of violence once current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
According to figures released earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police investigated 126 homicides in London, compared with 150 in 2019 and 133 in 2018.
However, NHS hospitals in England reported an eight per cent fall in admissions for assault by a sharp object between April 2019 and March 2020.
