Two murder investigations have been launched in London after teenagers critically injured in knife attacks last week died in hospital.
The two victims, both 18-year-old males, were stabbed in separate attacks in Walthamstow and Northolt. Their names have not yet been released.
They are the 33rd and 34th young people to die from knife attacks this year, according to the Guardian’s count. The Guardian has been tracking all of the deaths of children and teenagers killed by knives in Britain in 2017. The Beyond the Blade project aims to record every child or teenager killed by a knife, detailing their lives and deaths.
In Northolt on Saturday night, the killers arrived at the scene on two scooters before repeatedly stabbing their victim, a statement from the Metropolitan police said.
Police, paramedics and the London air ambulance attended the scene and the victim was taken to a London hospital in a life-threatening condition. He died on Tuesday.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested on Monday in connection with the attack and bailed to return in mid-December.
“This was a brutal and apparently pre-planned attack on a young man,” said DCI Noel McHugh, who is leading the investigation. “He was stabbed multiple times with a large knife with his attackers intent on inflicting fatal injuries.”
He added: “There are people out there who know who was involved and what they did. I need them to call us as soon as possible.”
The Northolt victim’s death came a day after that of another teenager, who was found stabbed in the stomach last Thursday night by police responding to reports of a group of males armed with weapons in Mount Pleasant Road, Walthamstow.
He was taken to an east London hospital but died from his wounds on Monday. The Metropolitan police’s homicide and major crime command is investigating but no arrests have been made.
