A murder investigation has been launched following the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy in Ashburton Park, Croydon, south London. Police were called to the scene shortly after 7pm on Thursday.
Officers administered first aid before the ambulance service arrived, but the teenager was pronounced dead at 7.36pm. His family have been informed, though formal identification has not yet taken place. A post-mortem examination will be conducted in due course.
This killing marks the 29th teenage homicide in London in 2021, surpassing the previous high of 27 in 2017. The last peak was 29 in 2008.
Met Police Commander Alex Murray expressed his sadness, stating: "I am deeply saddened by every single homicide this year, and greatly concerned by those that have been teenage killings. Each one is a tragedy... They are not statistics, not just numbers." He added that the force is devoting "huge resources" to preventing homicides and is not "complacent" about knife crime.
No arrests have been made. Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 101 quoting reference CAD 5443/30Dec.
