A 15-year-old boy has been stabbed to death during a fight outside a community centre in east London.
Police said they were called to a community centre in Romford on Saturday night after fighting broke following a private birthday party attended by up to 100 young people.
The teenager was found with knife wounds and died at the scene.
Attending the scene of the incident, local Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell said it was “devastating” that the young boy’s life had been “so tragically cut short”.
The local Labour party meanwhile described it as an "awful incident", saying: "Our young people and our communities deserve more than this."
The boy is the 22nd young person to be murdered with a knife in London this year, amid a surge in the number of knife crimes against under-25s in England and Wales.
It comes as The Independent revealed police are failing to solve 63 per cent of these crimes, prompting calls from politicians and youth workers for ministers to reverse “disastrous” cuts to police and youth services.
Scotland Yard said three male teenagers had been arrested on suspicion of murder and taken for questioning at separate police stations in east London.
The Metropolitan Police also deployed a large number of officers in the scene as a murder probe got under way.
Officers were first called to the community centre on Clockhouse Lane at 9.05pm following reports of fighting between groups and the centre being damaged.
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.“
The Met said a bus driver aged in his fifties was treated for a head injury at the scene, although there were no other injuries.
The boy's next of kin have been informed, although his identity has not been released.
Tweeting after attending the scene, Mr Rosindell said: “This is devastating 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.”
Detectives have appealed for information over the incident, requesting that those present contact police about what they saw and heard and offer any video footage or images of the violent aftermath to the party.
Response Team Inspector Michael O'Donoghue, from the Met's East Area, added: ”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.
“We will continue to provide a high-visibility presence and officers will be on hand to hear from those from the local community.”
Any witnesses or people with information are urged to call the incident room on 0208 345 3775 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They can also give information online via Crimestoppers or tweet police via MetCC.
