A teenager was stabbed to death in the street last night – raising London’s murder toll to nine already so far in 2019.
The 19-year-old was knifed on the Surrey Lane Estate in Battersea, south-west London at 7.52pm and died at the scene at 8.36pm.
The murder scene is around the corner from the £17,000-a-year Thomas’s School, attended by Prince George.
Police have cordoned off parts of Westbridge Road and Wolsey Court close to Battersea Bridge and a forensic tent stands in the middle of the road where the young man died.
One shocked neighbour said: ‘He was just a kid, I just remember him being young, always smiling’.
Police have cordoned off part a busy road in Battersea, south London, following a stabbing
A forensic tent is in place marking the spot in the middle of road where the 19-year-old was stabbed to death
A heavy police presence remains on the road, and there are a number of houses and flats behind the cordon and concerned residents
Police confirmed the next of kin of the victim has been informed. Initial reports suggest that teenager lived in the local area.
A Metropolitan Police statement said: ‘A male, believed to be 19 years old, was found with stab injuries.
‘Despite the efforts of paramedics, he was declared dead at 20.36hrs.
A large number of police vans and cars are at the scene. No arrests have yet been made
Emergency services were called at 7.52pm and found a man, believed to be 19 years old, with stab injuries
Already this year at least nine people have been murdered in the capital including 14-year-old Jayden Moore who was stabbed seven times in the back
‘Next of kin have been informed.
‘A crime scene is in place. The Homicide and Major Crime team has been informed.
‘There has been no arrest. Enquiries continue.’
London mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: ‘Heartbreaking to hear of the death of a young man in Battersea. My thoughts tonight are with his family and friends.
‘I’m in close contact with @MetPoliceUK – who are urging witnesses, or anyone with information, to come forward by calling 101 or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously.’
Marsha de Cordova, the Labour MP for Battersea, tweeted: ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the young man fatally stabbed this evening.’
The stabbing this evening comes after another teenager was knifed near London’s Euston station in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The victim, 18, is now fighting for his life in hospital and police have urged witnesses to come forward.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found an 18-year-old man suffering from stab wounds.
‘He was taken to hospital where his condition has been assessed as potentially life-threatening. No arrests have been made. Enquiries into the full circumstances continue.’
The scene of the incident is less than a five minute walk away from the £17,000-a-year Thomas’s School, attended by Prince George
London mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted following the stabbing in Battersea
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova tweeted following the stabbing this evening
These attacks are the latest in the capital’s wave of violent crime over the last 12 months, which saw 134 people murdered in London last year.
On Sunday, two teenagers were stabbed in west London and police officers believe the two incidents are linked.
One victim was found with stab injuries in the Harlington Road East area of Feltham at 2.27pm shortly before another teenager ‘suffering from slash wounds’ was found outside shops in Hounslow Road.
Neither victim’s injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
Last Thursday a 16-year-old boy was stabbed near an Aldi supermarket in Brent, north-west London.
Earlier that week Nedim Bilgin, 17, died in Caledonian Road, north London, after he was attacked with a knife.
He was the eighth person to die as a result of violence in the capital so far this year and three teenagers aged 16, 17 and 18 have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Figures released in January showed police-recorded violent crime had risen by nearly a fifth in England and Wales.
Forces also registered an eight per cent increase in offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.
Knife crime has been increasing over recent years and police and politicians have promised a crackdown