Man charged with murder of schoolboy killed in sword attack

A Spanish-Brazilian dual national has been charged with the murder of a schoolboy during a samurai sword rampage in London.

Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, 36, of Newham, east London, will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on May 2.

Mr Monzo had also been charged with two counts of attempted murder after a further four people – including two police officers – were seriously injured, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday night.

He has also been charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

The charges came as the teenager killed in the sword attack was described as “a wonderful, well-loved and hard-working” child whose death had left “a gaping wound in the family”.

Daniel Anjorin, 14, was named as the Bancroft’s School pupil killed in Hainault, north-east London, on Tuesday.

Det Chief Insp Larry Smith, who is leading the investigation, said the force was “starting to build a picture of what happened”.

He said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident that has resulted in a young boy losing his life and his family devastated. On behalf of the family, I would ask that their privacy is respected.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Scotland Yard revealed details about the Hainault attacks.

The force said the suspect, wearing a yellow-hooded top, drove a van into a 33-year-old man and a property on Laing Close. The man was then attacked and suffered a wound to his neck.

A 35-year-old was then left with “lacerations to his arm” when he was set upon inside a nearby house.

After that, Daniel was attacked and suffered fatal injuries.

Officers arrived within 12 minutes of the first 999 call, which was made shortly before 7am. The suspect was arrested 22 minutes later.

The statement said officers used incapacitant spray and Tasers, but said they initially had “limited impact”.

Two officers were attacked by the suspect, suffering serious injuries. The Met said they would require long-term rehabilitation to help them recover.

It added: “The suspect fled again before being surrounded by other officers in Thurlow Gardens. They used Taser to overpower him.”

Tributes have poured in for Daniel, who was described as a “true scholar” with a “gentle character” in a statement by his school in Woodford Green.

Only 10 months ago, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a 19-year-old former pupil at the same private school in Woodford Green, was stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane during a spate of frenzied attacks in Nottingham that left two others dead.

Simon Marshall, the headmaster at the £25,000-a-year school, told of the “profound shock and sorrow” felt by pupils and teachers after they learnt of the “heartbreaking news” of Daniel’s death.

The teenager is said to have been travelling from his home in Hainault to school when he was killed.

Mr Marshall said the boy, who joined Bancroft’s aged seven, had demonstrated “commendable dedication to his academic pursuits” and had become a “core member of our community”.

He said his death “will have a lasting impact on us,” and added: “Losing such a young pupil is something we will always struggle to come to terms with.”

The school’s flag was flying at half-mast on Wednesday as pupils and parents brought flowers to lay at its front gates.

In a letter to parents, the headmaster said: “It seems scarcely believable that less than a year on from the terrible death of Grace O’Malley-Kumar in the Nottingham attacks we are facing fresh sorrow.”

He added: “It is therefore with great sadness and shock that I am writing to inform you of the tragic death of Daniel Anjorin, one of our pupils. Our thoughts and prayers at this moment are with Daniel’s family and friends.

“More details will be forthcoming over the coming hours and days, but for now, our focus is on supporting the members of our community and particularly those who knew Daniel well.”

The school said it was offering support to grieving pupils, as well as his family “during this incredibly difficult time”.

An unnamed relative of the boy told Sky News that he was “a wonderful … well loved … and hard-working” child whose death had left “a gaping wound in the family”.

“No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today,” they said. “Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”

Daniel’s parents are understood to be Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, a 59-year-old health and safety consultant who worked at Transport for London for 20 years, and Grace Anjorin, a 49-year-old science teacher at the Holy Family Catholic School in Walthamstow.

The couple, of Nigerian heritage, are believed to have two other children and the family regularly attend the Jubilee Church in Enfield.

In a statement, the church urged its congregation “to pray for the family at this sad time”.

A police cordon remained in place at the scene on Wednesday, as friends of the Anjorin family spoke of their sadness.

Janti Charalambous, whose son attended prep school with the victim, said: “Daniel was an amazing young man. He was good at his studies. He was good at his sports. Very much loved by many people and [he] came from a wonderful family. The family are in shock. Obviously, they are heartbroken.”