Pictured: Boy, 14, who was stabbed to death ‘with samurai sword’
Pictured: Boy, 14, who was stabbed to death ‘with samurai sword for his electric scooter as he tried to defend friend from attackers’ outside pizza shop in east London
- Boy named locally as Fares was killed outside the Zzetta pizza shop in Newham
- Witnesses say teen was stabbed with a samurai sword as he defended a friend
- Others said the attacker took Fares’s electric scooter when they fled the scene
A teenager killed outside a pizza shop was stabbed to death with a ‘samurai sword’ as he tried to defend his friend from attackers, witnesses say.
Fares Maatou, 14, was attacked near to the Zzetta pizza restaurant in Newham, East London, shortly before 4pm on Friday by men who allegedly tried to take his scooter.
A friend of the victim said Fares had been attempting to protect him during the disagreement in Canning Town when the fatal stabbing took place.
Another alleged in a deleted Instagram post that the teenager was stabbed with a ‘samurai sword’, adding: ‘That was my boy. Rest up my bro.’
It was also claimed Fares was hit over the head with a metal pole during the attack, after which the attackers allegedly made off with his electric scooter.
Police and paramedics had rushed to Barking Road following reports of the stabbing yesterday afternoon, but Fares was pronounced dead at around 4.30pm.
Waiters from the nearby pizza restaurant had attempted to resuscitate the teenager while they waited for emergency services to arrive.
It emerged today that the teenager’s father is ‘critically ill’ in hospital with Covid-19.
A family friend added they weren’t sure if he was aware his son had died.
The boy (above), named locally as Fares, was killed outside the Zzetta pizza shop in Newham, East London, shortly before 4pm on Friday
A friend of the victim said Fares had attempted to protect him during a disagreement on the road in Canning Town ahead of the fatal attack
They said: ‘This is a terrible tragedy. The family have been through so much. We didn’t know if his dad was going to pull through after falling terribly ill with Covid.
‘He’s still critically ill and under intensive care, and now they have lost their youngest son.’
Speaking of the incident, a witness claimed Fares had died while ‘protecting’ him from attackers who then ‘took his scooter.’
He described the moment the victim had ‘dropped’ to the ground after allegedly being ‘stabbed,’ adding: ‘I looked at you bro thinking they really got him’.
The victim’s mother later arrived at the scene and fainted after learning her son had passed away, the Sun reported.
Tributes have been placed around the scene today, with neighbours describing the harrowing moment paramedics scrambled to save the boy.
Friends have also paid tribute to the ‘kind person who loved everyone’ as they arrived at the scene on Barking Road to lay flowers.
One of them, a school friend of Fares, said: ‘We were in the same class together and used to hang out at lunch – the last time I spoke to him was yesterday morning.
‘I asked him why he wasn’t coming to school and he said he wanted to avoid detention.
‘He put his uniform on to make it out to his parents that he was going to school.’
The friend explained how Fares had been walking past the pizza shop yesterday when attackers attempted to take his electric scooter.
Emergency services were called to Barking Road in East Ham, Newham, shortly before 4pm on Friday to reports of a stabbing
The victim is the eleventh and youngest teenager to be knifed to death in the capital this year
The men were going to attack his friend, they claimed, but ‘Fares jumped in front of him and was hit over the head with a metal stick.’
Another witness, who tried to help the victim as he lay dying, said: ‘He was stabbed and then ran around the corner. One of the guys had a knife and the other had a big iron bar.
‘The boys, there were about five of them, who attacked him were dressed in normal clothes. We tried to help him, I checked his pulse, but he was gone.’
One woman, Lucy, added: ‘I saw the paramedics trying to resuscitate him. It was so sad. There were loads of paramedics. Armed police turned up briefly.
‘It’s a young kid it shouldn’t happen, especially in broad daylight. He was a baby. He was in school uniform.’
Fares is the 11th and youngest teenage victim to be knifed to death in London this year.
Police yesterday confirmed patrols had been stepped up in Canning Town following the shocking daylight attack.
A Met spokesman said: ‘A murder investigation has been launched following a fatal stabbing in Newham. Police were called at 3.56pm to reports of an assault in Barking Road.
‘Officers attended with medics from the London Ambulance Service and the London Air Ambulance. They found a 14-year-old male who had been stabbed.
‘Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead shortly after 4.30pm. Efforts are under way to inform the victim’s next of kin.’
Fares is the 11th and youngest victim to be knifed to death in London this year
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the killing, adding: ‘I am in touch with the Deputy Met Commissioner and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends.’
He urged witnesses to come forward, saying: ‘This appalling incident happened on a busy street in broad daylight, so if you saw or know anything then please don’t stay silent.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact the force on 101 quoting reference CAD 5134/23Apr.
Alternatively witnesses can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
