A 17-year-old boy has died after being stabbed in Walthamstow, north-east London, becoming the ninth teenager to be fatally stabbed or shot in the capital this year.
Police were called to High Street, Walthamstow, at around 23:30 BST on Sunday. The teenager was found with stab wounds and taken to hospital, where he later died. Officers believe he was walking with friends when two men on bicycles approached him at the junction with Buxton Road.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner said: 'At this stage we are investigating whether the two suspects left the area on bicycles. If you were in the area last night and saw anything that may help us, or you have information that will assist, please get in touch.' No arrests have been made.
The victim is the sixth teenager to die from stab wounds this year, while three others were shot. According to BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw, there have been 29 fatal stabbings in London in 2017, compared to 23 by the same time in 2016.
The incident comes 48 hours after a 23-year-old man was found unconscious in Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, and later died. Last week, the Metropolitan Police launched the latest phase of Operation Sceptre, a crackdown on knife crime, resulting in 393 arrests, including 73 for possession of an offensive weapon.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: 'My message today is clear: if you carry a knife in London, we will catch you and arrest you.' Official statistics show knife crime in London increased by 24% in the year to April, with 12,074 recorded offences.
