Yahoo News Pictured: Teenager stabbed to death in Hackney was Facebook friends with Tottenham shooting victim
The teenager knifed to death in Hackney on Wednesday night was Facebook friends with Tanesha Melbourne, who was shot dead in Tottenham on Monday.
Israel Ogunsola died on Link Street in Homerton on Wednesday evening after officers were alerted to an altercation.
The 18-year-old computer programming student was pronounced dead at the scene, 25 minutes after police arrived.
A Facebook profile in his name shows that he was friends with Ms Melbourne, who was killed in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting just two days before.
Israel’s father, Dele, said his family came to the UK from Nigeria in 1985.
Paying tribute to his ‘academically brilliant’ son, he told the Evening Standard: ‘My son was a well brought up boy who respected everyone and was liked by all and sundry.
‘He was thoughtful and joyous and had lots of friends. He went out on his bicycle and never came back. He was on his own as far as I know, maybe it was a robbery, the police have not told me.
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‘We are struggling to come to terms with what has happened. He has an older brother and sister, he was the baby of the house. We are all heartbroken.’
A friend of Israel, Morgan, also said the killings were part of a ‘postcode war’.
He told The Sun: ‘I would just like to say that he was the most kind hearted guy ever! A soul that will truly be missed by many.
‘He’s a friend that wouldn’t see you everyday but when he did see you it’s like you never missed a day without each other.
‘Honestly a good guy with great intentions.’
Two 17-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the stabbing, the Met Police said.
The two suspects were arrested late on Wednesday evening.
Police are appealing for witnesses after the killing took the total number of murders in the capital to above 50, with stabbings at their highest rate since 2010/2011.
Extra officers are now being put in place to prevent any more bloodshed, according to Chief Superintendent Sue Williams.
Tory police cuts have already cost London thousands of police officers & staff, most of our police station front counters & police buildings. City Hall’s 2018/19 Budget invests an additional £110 million into the Met, boosting officer numbers & helping to tackle knife crime. pic.twitter.com/W9WD8mYfrl
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) April 4, 2018
On Tuesday, 16-year-old Amaan Shakoor became the youngest murder victim in London so far this year after he was also shot on Monday in Walthamstow, east London – just 30 minutes after Tanesha was killed.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted Tory police cuts’ in a video about the spate of killings, while shadow home secretary Diane Abbott advised against the use of random stop and search tactics as it has ‘poisoned relationships’ between the police and community.
Pressed on how to deal with the issue, Ms Abbott said: ‘We definitely need more community police officers.’
I’m sick of the political football. What I want is a political consensus.
After 4 young people have lost their lives in Haringey since Christmas I have not even had a phone call or a meeting with the PM or Home Secretary.
Where is the leadership? pic.twitter.com/1XmjGso9vs
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 5, 2018
Labour MP David Lammy said the violence in London was the ‘worst I’ve ever seen it’ as he raised concerns about drugs driving turf wars between gangs.
He said that, despite four deaths in the borough, he had not had a phone call from Home Secretary Amber Rudd or Mr Khan.
Mr Lammy told BBC Radio 4’s Today programmed: ‘No-one has come to visit my constituency. This is happening across London at large.
‘Frankly, I’m sick of the political football: what I want is a political consensus.’
