Boy, 15, stabbed to death outside Newham pizza restaurant named

Fares Maatou was stabbed near Zzetta Soul Fired Pizza restaurant in Newham

A 15-year-old boy stabbed to death outside an east London pizza restaurant has been named by police.

Fares Maatou died at the scene of the attack on Barking Road, Newham, on Friday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police said officers found the teenager with stab wounds shortly before 16:00 BST, but despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead half an hour later.

Witnesses said Fares was wearing his school uniform when he was attacked.

People place flowers at the scene in Barking Road, where 15-year-old Fares Maatou was stabbed

The Met said it believed Fares was attacked with "a large bladed item".

Two boys, 14 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday, while another 15-year-old boy was also held in connection with the incident, a spokesman added.

A post-mortem examination is still due to take place.

Two boys, 14 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday

Floral tributes and balloons have been placed outside the Zzetta Soul Fired Pizza restaurant.

A member of staff from the restaurant, who asked not to be named, said a FedEx worker, an off-duty police officer and a woman passing by had all rushed to the teenager's aid as he lay injured in the street.

"They were just shouting at him, 'wake up, wake up, try to breathe'," he said.

'Absolutely devastated'

A close friend of Fares said he had been a "really nice" person who "loved life".

The tearful 15-year-old, accompanied by her mother, said: "He would just be there for you.

"If you ever needed him, he would be there. He had nothing to do with the gang stuff around here.

Her mother, 33, from Stratford, said her daughter, who had been friends with Fares since nursery, had been left "heartbroken" and had not stopped crying "since she found out".

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, Fares was pronounced dead half an hour after being attacked

Det Ch Insp Perry Benton said Fares's family were, "of course, absolutely devastated".

"I have assured them of my total commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for this senseless killing," he said.

"They will be supported by specialist officers at every stage of what will be a terrible ordeal for them."

He added that officers had "received a good deal of information from local people".

"I thank them for that, and ask anyone with information or any witnesses who have yet to speak with police to please come forward."