15-year-old boy stabbed to death after birthday party in Romford

A 15-year-old schoolboy has been stabbed to death after a large scale fight broke out at a birthday party in east London.

Police were called to a community centre in Romford just after 9pm on Saturday evening after trouble flared when around 200 gatecrashers were turned away from the event and began causing trouble.

Officers arriving at the scene were greeted by group of youths battling one another and causing damage to surrounding property.

As police intervened they discovered a teenager collapsed on the ground suffering from knife wounds.

Paramedics and police battled to save his life at the scene, but their efforts were in vain and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

It is believed his death takes to 79, the the number of murder investigations launched in London since the start of the year.

UPDATE: Further reports of large scale violent disorder in the Colliers Row area of #Romford. Multiple @metpoliceuk units are on scene and Met Police dogs. pic.twitter.com/u2fThifOSP

— London 999 Feed (@999London) 23 June 2018

Scotland Yard said three teenagers had been arrested on suspicion of murder and were being questioned at a separate police stations in east London.

Locals in the area described how trouble flared when uninvited guests attempted to gain entry to a birthday party taking place at the community in Clockhouse Lane in Romford.

A woman who lives close to the community centre described scenes of chaos in the surrounding streets as youths fought with one another.

She said: "Around 9.20 I heard a lot of noise going on. For some reason it didn't sound right. Then I heard a lad crying down the phone 'he's dead, he's dead'.

"He was laying down in the road, there was a lot of blood. The police were working on him, they tried their absolute damnedest with that boy last night. Nobody should die like that."

A teenager who witnessed the aftermath of the attack said she could hear friends of the victim screaming and crying.

She said: "There were two or three boys screaming 'he's not moving', 'he's dead'. There was a big group on the corner with just the boy on the floor. There were paramedics doing shocks and CPR on him for quite a while.

"After, he was just laying there with a white sheet over him, it was covered in blood."

Detective Sergeant Gurj Singh said: "Response officers who attended the initial calls were confronted with up to 100 youths leaving a birthday party gathering at a community centre.

"There appeared to be fighting and tragically a teenager has been found with fatal injuries."

This is devasting news for the residents of North Romford. We must now wait for all the facts about this incident to be released. Until then, our condolences must go to the family of the young boy whose life has so tragically been cut short on our streets tonight.

— Andrew Rosindell MP (@AndrewRosindell) 23 June 2018

After visiting the area, local MP Andrew Rosindell said it was "devastating" that a young life had "so tragically been cut short on our streets tonight".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has tweeted following the death of the teenager.

In a statement he said: "Anyone involved in this tragic incident will swiftly face the full force of the law. If you have any information at all about the incident last night - please report this to the police.

"There is no honour in remaining silent."

He noted how "violent crime is rising across our country and these senseless deaths are devastating families and communities, causing pain, loss and fear".

"Let me be clear - these appalling crimes will not be tolerated in London. There are no excuses for carrying a knife," Mr Khan added.

The Met said a bus driver aged in his fifties was treated for a head injury at the scene, although there were no other injuries.

The boy's next of kin have been informed, although his identity has not been released.

Detectives have appealed for information over the incident.

DS Singh said: "I would like to directly appeal to those present to contact police about what they saw and heard to help my team build a clearer picture of what took place.

"Equally, if you have video footage or images of the violent aftermath to the party, we need to hear from you."

Response Team Inspector Michael O'Donoghue, from the Met's East Area, added: "Officers have been out in force this evening providing reassurance to those in the community who have no doubt been shocked by this appalling attack on a teenager.

"We will continue to provide a high-visibility presence and officers will be on hand to hear from those from the local community."