Family of 18-year-old stab victim Jason Isaacs: knife crime is 'out of control' in London

The family of an 18-year-old apprentice carpenter stabbed to death in an apparently unprovoked attack in north London have said knife crime is "out of control" in the capital.

Jason Isaacs was on a night out with friends in Northolt on Saturday when they were targeted by balaclava-clad attackers on mopeds in a "pre-planned attack".

The group fled for their lives, but the teenager became separated before being stabbed multiple times with a large knife.

Critically injured, Mr Isaacs was rushed to hospital where he died on Tuesday.

There have been a total of 18 fatal stabbings involving teenagers in London this year.

The Metropolitan Police has announced a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for Mr Isaacs' "truly horrific" death.

In a statement issued with the appeal, the teenager's family called for more to be done to stop knife crime.

"We feel that knife crime in this area, and in London, is out of control and it must be stopped before another young life is taken, and another family has to suffer what we are suffering now," they said.

"We need to educate young people early on around the dangers of carrying knives in public places."

Mr Isaacs is the 23rd teenager to be violently killed in London this year. The 24th was Kacem Mokrane, also 18.

Eighteen of these violent killings were stabbings. The number of teenagers slain in the capital is now double the figure of 12 in the whole of last year.

Mr Isaacs was fatally wounded after being ambushed by a gang on two scooters and stabbed multiple times in what police described as a “pre-planned attack” by youths armed with a large knife.

The assailants returned to their scooters and fled following the attack at 10.30pm on Saturday in Newnham Close – the same street where Mr Isaac’s close friend Abdullahi Tarabi, 19, was stabbed to death in April.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the attack and bailed pending further investigation.