Yahoo News Police arrest teen on suspicion of murder of 16-year-old stabbed to death on grim night for knife crime in London
Police investigating the killing of a 16-year-old boy stabbed to death in London have arrested a teen on suspicion of murder.
The victim, who is yet to be named, was stabbed in Yiewsley, west London, on Thursday (30 December) less than an hour after the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Zaian Aimable-Lina in Ashburton Park, Croydon, south London.
The stabbings made 2021 the bloodiest year on record for teen homicides in London.
Announcing the arrest of a 16-year-old in connection with the teen in Yiewsley, the Met Police said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at 7.34pm on Thursday following reports of a stabbing at the Philpotts Farm Open Space close to Heather Lane.
Watch: Two boys stabbed to death in separate incidents an hour apart
There they found a 16-year-old who had been stabbed, and despite the efforts of paramedics he was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.25pm.
The force said that on Sunday (2 January) detectives attended an address in Hillingdon where they arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.
The victim’s family, who are being supported by specialist officers, have been informed.
Detective Chief Inspector James Shirley, who is leading the investigation, said: "While this arrest is a significant development in our investigation, we continue to fully explore all available lines of enquiry.
"Our thoughts remain with the family of a young man who has lost his life to senseless violence.
"We are committed to doing all we can to secure justice for them by finding the person or people responsible.
"I would urge anyone who has information and who has not yet spoken to the police to come forward. What you know could be the thing that makes the difference in this case."
Earlier on Sunday, the Met Police announced a second arrested in connection with the murder of Zaian Aimable-Lina.
Aimable-Lina was found by emergency services called to Ashburton Park, Croydon shortly after 7pm on Thursday (30 December), where they found him with stab wounds.
Despite their efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination gave his cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.
A 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday (31 December) and later released on bail, and on Sunday police announced that another 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder late on Saturday (1 January).
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