Romford stabbing: Sadiq Khan breaks silence after boy, 15, killed in latest bloodshed
The Mayor of London tweeted there "was no honour in being silent" after a teenager who was stabbed on multiple occasions in a suspected murder in Collier Row, Romford, was confirmed by MET Police.
The Mayor of London has slammed those responsible on social media after three teenagers were arrested for suspected murder after a fight broke out at a sixteenth birthday party booked at a local community centre.
The birthday party was attended by up to 100 youths at athe North Romford Community Centre, Clockhouse Lane in Romford, east London.
Reports claim that a group of teenagers arrived at the venue without supervision and were denied entry, leading to an altercation.
Police and paramedics rushed to the scene after a 15 year-old was suffering from stab injuries.
He was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
At around 12.20pm, Mr Khan tweeted his outrage at the murder, saying:"Anyone involved in this tragic incident will swiftly face the full force of the law. If you have any information at all about the incident last night - please report this to the police.
"There is no honour in remaining silent."
Continuing, Mr Khan said: "Violent crime is rising across our country and these senseless deaths are devastating families and communities, causing pain, loss and fear.
"Let me be clear - these appalling crimes will not be tolerated in London. There are no excuses for carrying a knife."
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A bus driver in his fifties was also treated for a head injury at the scene.
Detective Sergeant Gurj Singh said: “Response officers who attended the initial calls were confronted with up to 100 youths leaving a birthday party gathering at a Community Centre.
"There appeared to be fighting and tragically a teenager has been found with fatal injuries."
Andrew Rosindell, Romford MP, has described the incident as “devastating”.
He said in a Facebook post: “Coming so soon after the murder of the lady in Ashmour Gardens, this is devasting news for the residents of North Romford.
“We must now wait for all the facts about this incident to be released.
“Until then, our condolences must go to the family of the young boy whose life has so tragically been cut short on our streets tonight.”
A man who lives nearby said he spoke to a teenage boy outside his house looking "distraught" who told him "they've killed my best friend, they've killed him".
The man, who declined to be named, said the boy was calling someone to get a lift home and said he was from Thurrock in Essex.
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A young couple described being drawn to a window by "running, shouting and screaming" and seeing a large group huddled around the body.
There were around 200 people in total on the street, Rebecca Denham and Conor Rufus, both 20, estimated.
Mr Rufus said: "Some people were running toward the body, some people were running away, there were cars coming and picking people up.
"It was all kicking off. There was all this screaming."
Ms Denham added: "We locked all the doors and windows and just stayed inside."
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A teenager who witnessed the aftermath of the attack said she looked out of her window after hearing screaming.
Identifying herself as Ellie, she said: "There were two or three boys screaming 'he's not moving', 'he's dead'.
"There was a big group on the corner with just the boy on the floor. There were paramedics doing shocks and CPR on him for quite a while.
"After, he was just laying there with a white sheet over him, it was covered in blood."
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The latest stabbing incident comes amid a widespread increase of knife violence across the capital in 2018.
Dozens of teenagers have been fatally stabbed in London so far this year.
Following the attack in Romford, police have tried to reassure the public.
Response Team Inspector Michael O’Donoghue from East Area said: "Officers have been out in force this evening providing reassurance to those in the community who have no doubt been shocked by this appalling attack on a teenager."
The boy's nex of kin have been informed.