Murder probe is launched as teenage boy is stabbed to death on street in southeast London
Murder probe is launched as teenage boy is stabbed to death on street in southeast London in front of hundreds of horrified onlookers
- Police and paramedics raced to Woolwich New Road, south east London, today
- Officers at scene and roads have been closed off as investigations continue
- A local Tesco branch was also evacuated as armed police barred the entrance
A murder investigation has been launched after a teenage boy was stabbed to death in a horrific attack in a south east London street this evening.
Paramedics, multiple police vehicles and an air ambulance were called to Woolwich New Road, south east London, at 5.23pm after the victim was attacked in front of horrified onlookers.
Officers provided the teenage boy with first aid prior to the arrival of the London Ambulance Service but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.08pm.
Officers are in the process of contacting his next of kin and formal identification has not taken place.
Emergency services at the scene after a teenage boy was stabbed to death in a horrific attack on Woolwich New Road, south east London
Police officers stand outside a nearby Tesco branch after it was evacuated earlier today
Forensic teams carry out their investigations after a teenage boy was stabbed in Woolwich
A police cordon has now been put in place around the scene and drivers have been warned to avoid the area as the force carry out their investigations.
A police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called at 17.23hrs on Monday, 5 July to reports of a stabbing on Woolwich New Road, SE18.
‘Officers attended and found a teenage boy suffering from a stab injury. They immediately provided first aid prior to the arrival of the London Ambulance Service. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 18.08hrs.
‘Officers are in the process of contacting his next of kin. Formal identification has not taken place.
‘A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.’
Following the attack, a local Tesco branch was evacuated before armed police barred the entrance and raided the store ‘in search of the suspect’, My London reports.
Images from the scene also appeared to show members of the public holding up sheets to cover the victim from view as paramedics desperately tried to save his life.
Today Matthew Pennycook, the Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, wrote on Twitter: ‘Woolwich is grieving the senseless murder of yet another young man on our streets this evening. Another family devastated.
A police cordon has now been put in place around the scene and drivers have been warned to avoid the area
Police officers remain at the scene as they carry out their investigations into the murder
‘The promise of another life extinguished. I urge anyone with any information to come forward to the police.’
And Greenwich council leader Dan Thorpe said the ‘senseless murder’ had ‘devastated a family’.
He said: ‘The thoughts and prayers of everyone in @RoyalGreenwich tonight are with the family of the young person whose life has been lost in Woolwich.
‘This senseless murder has devastated a family and our community holds them in our thoughts and prayers tonight.
‘We are working closely with MPS Greenwich to find those responsible and bring them to justice as quickly as possible. If you know anything at all please get in touch with them. Please do not share on social media. ‘
There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 using the reference 5748/05Jul.
