Croydon: Tributes paid to girl, 15, killed on way to school

A 15-year-old girl who was killed on her way to school has been described as "very comedic" with a "bright future".

Flowers and cards have been placed near the scene where the stabbing took place in Croydon, south London, at about 08:30 BST on Wednesday.

A witness said the victim was stabbed in the neck with a foot-long knife.

A boy aged 17, believed to be known to the victim, was arrested shortly after the girl died at 09:21.

Neither the victim nor the suspect have been named.

Witnesses said there had been an argument with a boy who tried to give the girl or her friend flowers.

The Metropolitan Police urged those with information or footage of the attack to come forward.

Ch Sup Andy Brittain said officers were supporting the girl's family who were "facing the most tragic of news".

"I am in contact with the local community, who are clearly as concerned as we are about this tragic incident," he added.

"Within 75 minutes a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington, and remains in custody."

The force said that it was not looking for anyone else in connection to the offence.

People in Croydon left flowers at the scene of the stabbing in Croydon

One of the cards left near the attack read: "Sorry we live in this crazy world, this makes no sense. Fly high up there, my mummy will look after you. RIP beautiful, forever young, taken too soon."

Staff at Old Palace of John Whitgift, the girl's school in Croydon, said the school community was "deeply shocked at the death of a "much-loved and valued friend and pupil".

"It will take some time for the Old Palace community to come to terms with this terrible news, and we will offer support to our pupils as we try to do so.

"Above all, we send our love and deepest sympathies to the girl's family at this unimaginably distressing time."

A bunch of flowers can be seen lying on the ground near a white forensic tent at the scene

The year 11 pupil had just got off the number 60 bus with a group of friends when she was attacked. Witnesses said the bus driver and other passers-by tried to save her.

Ch Supt Brittain called the attack "every parent's worst nightmare".

"I know the officers who responded this morning, along with our emergency service colleagues, are devastated at the victim's death."

He said officers were on the scene within two minutes of the call being received and provided emergency first aid.

Visiting the scene Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called the murder "senseless" and said it was "impossible to comprehend."

He added that it was "moving and humbling to meet many members of the exceptional Croydon community who have come together in support of a family now dealing with the most unimaginable grief."

Met Police Ch Sup Andy Brittain said it was "every parent's worst nightmare"

Police cars and ambulances surrounded a red double decker bus in Wellesley Road, near the Whitgift Centre.

A white forensic tent has been erected within a police cordon outside the shopping centre and flowers can be seen by the tent.

One witness, who only wanted to be named as Bridget, said: "I was on the bus before and came off and walked back down, I saw them resuscitating her.

"The driver was holding her and a lady. The emergency services were already here when I walked back."

Local youth worker Anthony King, who runs a crime reduction organisation in Croydon, said the girl - who was in her GCSE year - "had a bright future ahead of her".

He described her as an "absolutely incredible young lady" and told of how others said she was "jovial, very comedic".

He told BBC Radio London he met with the girl's friends and family following this morning's attack.

"This is the fourth or fifth time that I've had to look a parent in the eye and tell them their child has died. It's the worst day of my life and I can't imagine what that feeling is like [for them].

"The noises and screams I heard this morning will sit in my spirit indefinitely. Keep the family in your prayers and thoughts."

He added that it had been 22 months since a teenager had been murdered in Croydon.

The 15-year-old girl was a pupil at Old Palace of John Whitgift School

'Happening too often'

This is the 15th teenage homicide this year. There were 14 last year.

According to Met Police data, between August 2022 and 2023, Croydon had more stabbings than any other borough in London, with 211 "knife crime with injury" offences recorded.

When population size is factored in, Croydon has 0.5 "knife crime with injury" offences per 1,000 people, making it the 10th highest rate out of London's boroughs.

Croydon resident Georgina Slater, told the BBC the killing was "absolutely disgusting, and it's just happening far too often in this area".

"I don't understand how at this time in the morning a little girl's been stabbed," she said.

Georgina Slater said the people of Croydon "need help and no-one's doing it"

"I don't know what the police are doing... they're just getting younger.

"We need intervention, we need stuff for the kids, they've got no guidance. The police turn up when it's this - where's the interventions in the schools?"

Another passer-by, Christopher Ita, said: "This will happen again next week, and next month, it'll just be somebody else."

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was "absolutely heartbroken" by the killing and appealed for witnesses, adding he was in touch with the Met Police commissioner.

Forensic investigators at the scene of the stabbing

Patrick Green, the chief executive of anti-knife crime charity the Ben Kinsella Trust, argued that knife crime is "the most pressing problem facing this country today."

He called for police to be given more resources to deal with the issue and for work to be done to make knives less readily available online.

Mr Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that young people carrying knives for protection is "a vicious cycle."

He added: "There is work to be done about working with young people to make sure that they feel safe in the environments that they live and go to school in. That's critical."

Croydon Central MP, Sarah Jones, said she was "heartbroken that a child in my town has been killed on her way to school".

She thanked the police and ambulance service for their quick response and attempts to save the girl's life.

Croydon South MP and minister for policing Chris Philp said news of the girl's death was "devastating".

"Nothing can be worse for a parent than losing a child. We must redouble our efforts to take all knives off the streets of London, using every means available."

Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North, called it "another tragic, shocking and avoidable loss of life".

Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry also said he was devastated, adding "our whole community's thoughts are with the victim's family and friends".

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