Teenager stabbed to loss of life in Leytonstone as London is hit by 5 severe knife assaults in 4 days

A teenager has died outside a pizzeria after being the fifth to be stabbed in London in a four day flurry of knife crime. 

Police were called to High Road in Leytonstone this afternoon after reports of a violent attack in a busy high street. 

Officers and the London Ambulance attended, and found a man – believed to be in his late teens – suffering from stab injuries.

Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed.

At this early stage, there have been no arrests and police are asking anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 3896/06Aug.

Police were called to High Road in Leytonstone this afternoon after reports of a violent attack in a busy high street

The latest stabbing occurred in north west London, following on from four other stabbings dotted around the city

The tragic death comes just two days after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in a knife attack at Highbury Fields, north London, at around 9pm on Thursday night.

He reportedly told police ‘I’m dying’ as he lay bleeding beside a playground.

Heartbreakingly, officers told him he was ‘going to be OK’ as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and rushed to hospital, but died not long later.

The BBC said he is the youngest teenager to be stabbed to death in the capital so far this year and Scotland Yard officers have now launched a murder probe.

Witnesses reported a gang of 50 to 70 people at the scene before the attack took place.

Chloe Hadjimatheou, 47, was in the playground with her five-year-old son, she said: ‘I didn’t see the stabbing itself, I saw the young people running away and the guy on the ground. I didn’t realise what was going on I didn’t connect them at first, I thought he was drunk.

A search took place at Highbury Fields after a fifteen-year-old was stabbed to death there on Thursday

Forensics were gathering evidence at the crime scene in north London on Friday

Emergency services rushed to Highbury Fields in Highbury, Islington, at around 9pm on Thursday

‘Within five minutes a big police van came down and then another two unmarked cars, they cordoned off the whole thing and still there was no ambulance.

‘It took a while to get there and the kid was in a lot of pain and at one point he was shouting ‘I’m dying’ and the police officer was saying ‘you are going to be OK’.

‘So I thought he would be OK. I was shocked to find out what happened this morning.’

London remains gripped by a summer crime wave across the capital in the wake of 14 fatalities since the start of July. 

It follows three other stabbings in the capital on Wednesday night.

In Ilford, east London, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed on Chadwick Road outside a Royal Mail sorting office at 4.20pm on Wednesday, August 3.

Another teenager was stabbed three hours later on Eltham High street, in Eltham, south-east London, at 6.30pm.

At around 10.38pm, a third stabbing happened in south London, at Lewisham station.

Figures reveal how knife crime rate has shot up  

Last month it emerged police forces in England and Wales had recorded the highest number of offences in 20 years, driven by a sharp rise in fraud, rape and violent attacks.

A total of 6.3million crimes were recorded in the year to March 2022 ⁠— four per cent higher than the previous all-time high of 6.1million in 2019/20. 

It was also up 16 per cent on 2020/21, when crime levels were affected by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The figures, which were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed knife crime, theft and domestic abuse all increased in the 12 months to March.

Police-recorded offences of fraud and computer misuse rose 17 per cent, from 828,364 in 2020/21 to 965,162 in 2021/22.

Knife crime rose by 10 per cent to 49,027 offences in the year to March, compared to 44,642 in the previous 12 months ⁠— though this is below the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20, which saw 55,078 offences.

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Last month it emerged police forces in England and Wales had recorded the highest number of offences in 20 years, driven by a sharp rise in fraud, rape and violent attacks. 

A total of 6.3million crimes were recorded in the year to March 2022 ⁠— four per cent higher than the previous all-time high of 6.1million in 2019/20. 

It was also up 16 per cent on 2020/21, when crime levels were affected by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Knife crime rose by 10 per cent to 49,027 offences in the year to March, compared to 44,642 in the previous 12 months ⁠— though this is below the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20, which saw 55,078 offences. 

It comes after Lilia Valutyte was brutally killed outside her mother’s embroidery shop in the town centre of Boston, Lincolnshire at around 6.20pm on Thursday, July 28.

Footage has shown the moment the youngster was playing with her five-year-old sibling on a street in broad daylight with a hula hoop – which the pair often did while their mother was at work – before Lilia was attacked just ten minutes later.

Police officers could be seen running over to Lila followed by paramedics who rushed towards the little girl with their first-aid bags in a desperate bid to save her.

Shocked residents could then be seen gathering at the scene on Fountain Lane before an officer ushers them away, ITV News reports.

Lithuanian national Deividas Skebas, 22, of Boston, was charged with stabbing Lilia to death on Monday at Lincoln Crown Court.

He has been remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at Lincoln Crown Court on September 19, when a provisional trial date will be fixed. 

After the tragedy, her family was said to be in hiding for fear of being targeted, according to the Sun.

A family friend said they are ‘so, so worried’, adding: ‘They have not been able to stay at home. They are worried whoever did this could still be out there. They are worried they could be a target.

‘It is just so awful — they have the impossible task of trying to come to terms with the loss of Lilia. Then they still feel they need to protect their other little daughter.’

Lilia’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief in a town known for its large Eastern European community.      

Lilia Valutyte (pictured) was brutally stabbed to death outside her mother’s embroidery shop in the town centre of Boston, Lincolnshire at around 6.20pm on Thursday, 28 July

The chilling number of child murders in the UK in the last year 

 

Ava White – 25 November 2021

Ava White (right) was just 12 years old when she was stabbed to death in Liverpool City Centre in November last year.

The school girl had been near to the Royal Court Theatre with a group of friends to watch the Christmas lights switch-on. 

But she was stabbed by a 14-year-old boy after an argument about him filming her.

As she went towards him to get him to delete the footage he lashed out with a knife, stabbing her in the neck.

She died shortly afterwards in hospital.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 13 years. 

Zaian Aimable-Lina  – 30 December 2021 

Zaian Aimable-Lina, 15, (below) suffered three stab wounds in Ashburton Park in Croydon, south London.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder.  

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard said: ‘My thoughts continue to be with Zaian’s family and friends as they cope with this tragic loss. My team are continuing to work around the clock so that we can give Zaian’s family the answers they deserve.

 

‘Zaian’s death has sent shockwaves through the local community and London as a whole. He was just 15- years-old and had his whole life ahead of him and we need the community to work with us to bring those responsible to justice. No matter how insignificant you may think it, if you have information that can help, you must do the right thing and contact us immediately.’ 

 

Kennie Carter – 22 January 2022 

Officers were called to Thirlmere Avenue, in Stretford, to reports a boy had been found with stab injuries. He was later named locally as Kennie Carter. 

Kennie (right) was treated by paramedics but died later in hospital. A total of five teenagers were arrested on suspicion of murder. 

Close family friend Beckiee Carol-Jadee McCabe, said: ‘I grew up with his family, my family are very close with his, they are like family to me.

‘I’m absolutely heartbroken. That such a beautiful young soul has been taken far too soon at the age 16, he was such a quiet boy growing up wouldn’t do any harm to no one.

‘Loved by so many people It’s so devastating that he’s had to lose his life, because of knife crime, He’s going to be deeply missed by all that knew Kennie.

‘There will always be a place in my heart for him.’

Jakub Szymanski – 9 June 2022 

 

Jakub Szymanski (right) was branded a ‘hero’ who ‘fought for his family’ after stepping in to to save his mother, Katarzyna Bastek, who was left ‘seriously injured’ following an attack in Miles Platting, Manchester.

A 44-year-old man was arrested some 250 miles away in Kent on suspicion of murder. 

A person close to Jakub, who is believed to be one of four brothers, told the MEN: ‘There’s not a chance that boy isn’t a hero. Everyone here knew him for being kind and respectful.

‘He was quiet, but he was a protector. He fought for his family. 

‘He was an amazing person, he was a hero and he should be remembered as one.’

Detective Chief Inspector Alicia Smith, from GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: ‘A teenage boy who had his whole life ahead of him has tragically lost his life and not only is his mother grieving at the loss of her son, but she is also recovering from what will have been no doubt, hugely traumatic.’ 

David-Mario Lazar – 25 January 2022

Five year old David-Mario Lazar was killed while in the care of one of the people meant to look after him – his grandmother. 

The young boy had been staying with Elena Anghel at her home in Earlsdon, Coventry when he was attacked.

The ‘beautiful’ child was found severely injured and died as a result of a stab wound.

Anghel, 49, was initially arrested but has since been detained under the Mental Health Act. 

David-Mario’s parents paid tribute to him, calling him a ‘happy boy’ who was ‘always smiling’.

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