Camberwell quadruple stabbing: boy charged after two seriously hurt

Two teenage boys were seriously injured and two others suffered lesser injuries after the four were stabbed in south London.

Six males were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and grievous bodily harm with one so far being charged.

Scotland Yard said the injured boys, aged between 15 and 16, were taken to south London hospitals after police were called to an incident outside Landor House in Camberwell shortly before 5.30pm on Thursday.

On Friday evening, a 15-year-old boy was charged with possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis following the altercation.

He was bailed to appear at Camberwell youth court on 5 September, Scotland Yard said. Five other boys, aged between 15 and 16, were bailed to return to a south London police station in mid-September.

One of the victims was admitted to hospital in a critical condition but is now said to be serious but stable.

The crime scene is just a short walk from Warham Street, where 23-year-old rapper Sidique Kamara, also known as Incognito, was stabbed to death on 1 August. A police cordon remained in place on Friday morning with detectives and specialist officers reassuring worried locals.

Residents of the Elmington estate who saw the aftermath described at least one teenager who appeared to be seriously hurt.

“That particular one, I hope he does live but by the looks of it and the way the ambulance had to struggle I would give it just an 8% [chance],” said a 25-year-old woman, who did not want to be identified. “It was very traumatising.”

Other witnesses said they saw a group of boys running minutes before police arrived, and one said he did not think any of those involved lived on the estate.

“About 10 minutes before the stabbing, I saw a whole heap of youths run down that way,” said the man, who asked not to be named, pointing towards the crime scene.

“Then 10 minutes later I heard people shouting and bawling out the back there. When I looked round the back there, I saw the youth come running from the block. He came to the corner and dropped. He was holding his belly.”

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, described seeing boys running on the grass opposite her flat shortly before the stabbing. “There were four or five black boys running. All of a sudden I could hear, ‘Help, help,’” she said.

“I have walked up and as I did I have seen the police running. One of the police officers got a first aid bag and I saw one of the boys lying on the floor.”

Witnesses described a large police presence minutes after the incident as officers and medics from the London Ambulance Service arrived on the scene.

Supt Annmarie Cowley said: “This incident is in its very early stages and at present we cannot speculate on what the nature of it may be. What we can say for certain is if there needed to be an example of the utter senselessness of knife crime, then this is it.

“Four males are in hospital, and at this stage we cannot say how serious their injuries are. It is beyond comprehension.”

She added that legislation was invoked to provide officers with additional search powers to deter any further trouble overnight, while she also implored anyone who witnessed the incident to speak with the police in confidence.

Harriet Harman, the Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, said she was very concerned by the latest stabbing and was in contact with police and councillors.

• Witnesses or anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.