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Pictured: two young men stabbed to death in London within hours of each other

Jason Isaacs, pictured with his parents, died yesterday after three days in a coma
Jason Isaacs, pictured with his parents, died yesterday after three days in a coma

These are the faces of the latest teenage victims of London’s knife crime epidemic who died within hours of each other in hospital.

Jason Isaacs and Kacem Mokrane, both 18, were killed following separate suspected gang attacks near their homes in north and west London.

Mr Isaacs, a student, died yesterday after three days in a coma following an assault by moped riders less than half a mile from where he lived in Northolt.

Less than 24 hours earlier, talented footballer Mr Mokrane succumbed to his injuries, two days after being stabbed in the stomach on a quiet street in Walthamstow.

Talented footballer Kacem Mokran died two days after being stabbed in Walthamstow
Talented footballer Kacem Mokran died two days after being stabbed in Walthamstow

They are the 23rd and 24th teenagers to be violently killed in London this year, 18 of whom have been stabbed.

The number of teenagers slain in the capital is now double the figure of 12 in the whole of last year.

Today the families of the latest victims spoke of their devastation, with Mr Mokrane’s grandmother Marlene Sutton pleading: “We don’t want others to go through what we have.”

Her desperate appeal came after another day of bloodshed on London’s streets yesterday.

Police at the scene of the stabbing in Northolt (Nigel Howard)
Police at the scene of the stabbing in Northolt (Nigel Howard)

A 20-year-old man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed and shot in the face and stomach shortly after 8pm in Wood Green.

A 24-year-old man is fighting for life in hospital following a triple stabbing in a fight at about 6.30pm in Thornton Heath in south London.

There were further stabbings in West Norwood and Hounslow.

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.

Speaking through tears, Mr Isaac’s mother Sharon Kendall revealed her “popular” son had been working as a labourer while studying for an apprenticeship.

She said: “He died in the exact same spot his good friend was killed. He was heartbroken about that, I just can’t believe it. He was a kid and deserved to grow up to be a man.

“He was such a hard worker and liked his own money, he was so independent. He had so many friends come and visit him in hospital. I had no idea he was so popular. So many people have been affected by his death.

“Knife crime is not going to stop. It’s going to get worse, sadly, and there will be another grieving mother feeling my pain.”

Mr Isaac’s father Steven announced that his son had lost his battle for life in an emotional Facebook post.

He wrote: “We all love you so much, thanks for being a great son, brother, cousin and friend to everyone.

“You made us all so proud. Love you like the big blue sky.”

Mr Mokrane, a former player for Leyton Orient Football Club’s Centre of Excellence youth program, was attacked by a group of armed men on Mount Pleasant Road just minutes after leaving a family dinner at about 11.15pm on Thursday.

He was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma before dying on Monday, less than three weeks after his 18th birthday.

His grandmother Ms Sutton said: “We were there by his side the whole time. We never left him. We wouldn’t leave.

“Everyone is absolutely devastated. His mother can’t come out of the bedroom. His brother’s locked himself in his bedroom and won’t come out.”

Ms Sutton said the family did not know why Mr Mokrane was attacked, adding: “There’s all sorts of stories flying around. Someone said they were waiting for anyone that passed.

“He had ordered a takeaway pizza for everybody, and then went out the door whistling with his slice of pizza. He was on his own. Then ten minutes later he had been stabbed.

“He called his brother to say he had been hurt, he didn’t say he’d been stabbed. I ran down there in my dressing gown. The state he was in, you just wouldn’t believe it.”

One of six siblings, Mr Mokrane had attended nearby Walthamstow Academy before embarking on a football apprenticeship in Thamesmead, southeast London.

His grandmother said: “He was the liveliest one in the house. He was the heart and soul. He was friends with everybody. He didn’t see colour, he didn’t see race. Everyone adored him.

“It’s been horrendous. I said to all his friends that came to visit him in hospital, do not go out with knives. I said we don’t want any revenge, we just want the person or people who did this to face justice.

“We don’t want others to go through what we have. We’re distraught.”

Murder detectives are appealing for witnesses to both attacks to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.