A schoolgirl has been stabbed to death in south London as she and fellow teenagers made their way to school.
Police and paramedics were called at 8.30am this morning to reports that a 15-year-old girl had been stabbed on Wellesley Road, near the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon.
A bus driver and a passer-by had initially battled to save her life, while two other schoolgirls, believed to be the victim’s friends, tried to get through the police cordon.
Police and paramedics were called to a stabbing in Croydon on Wednesday morning
(Ragu Pathy)
A TfL bus was cordoned off by emergency services, while resusciation efforts continued for 40 minutes.
Despite the best efforts of the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.21am.
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A mother-of-two, who wanted to be named only as Bridget, said: “I was on the bus before and came off and walked back down, I saw them resuscitating her. The driver was holding her, and a lady.
After receiving information from the scene, officers from Scotland Yard and British Transport Police tracked down a teenage boy in connection with the stabbing, and he was arrested in the Croydon area at around 9.45am.
It is understood that he was known to her.
A white tent has been erected on the pavement while images and videos from the scene show a number of police cars surrounding the Route 60 bus, which was heading towards Streatham Station.
Around three police vehicles and a dozen officers remain, while a bunch of flowers have been placed next to the forensic tent.
The road has been closed northbound between the Whitgift Centre and St Michael’s Road, with a number of buses currently on diversion, including route 60, 407 and 455.
Speaking to the Independent, Katia Brito, 22, said: “I arrived at the scene at 9.02am and the two buses had stopped. The tent was up and emergency services were trying to keep her alive. Kids were running under the underpass.”
Paramedics battled to save her life but she was pronounced dead less than an hour later
(The Independent )
An estate agent, Michael Fyfe, 40, came running from his work on the high street, and also witnessed the efforts to resucitate the teenager.
Jennifer, 35, who has a 15-year-old daughter, said her heart dropped upon hearing the news. “I ran out to the scene and tried to call her,” she said. “I went into panic mode, I felt sick. I called her school and it wasn’t her.
“You send your child to school and you expect them to come home. This child didn’t even get to school. The government need to sort out these kids.”
One witness, who didn’t want to be named, told The Sun: “Someone attacked a young girl. The victim was a schoolgirl, she must only have been about secondary school age. She was wearing a green school uniform.
Forensics at the scene around the Route 60 bus
(Lucy North/PA Wire)
“When it happened everybody ran off the bus.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, in charge of local policing, said: “Our immediate thoughts are with this young girl’s family who are facing the most tragic of news. Our officers are with the girl’s family to support them.
“I am in contact with the local community, who are clearly as concerned as we are about this tragic incident. I shall continue to update them throughout the day.
He added that a crime scene will remain in place for some time as investigations continue.
Emergency services at the scene near the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon
(Jordan Reynolds/PA Wire)
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called today (27 September) at 8:33am to reports of an incident on Wellesley Road, Croydon.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including three ambulance crews, an incident response officer, and an advanced paramedic in a car. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated a teenager, but very sadly, despite our best efforts, she died at the scene.”
In response to the news, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I am absolutely heartbroken by the death of a 15-year-old girl in Croydon this morning.
A teenage boy has been arrested by the Met Police in connection with the incident
(Jordan Reynolds/PA Wire)
“My thoughts and prayers are with this young girl’s family and friends, and the whole community, at this unimaginably awful time.
“An arrest has been made in connection with this incident and I am in close contact with the Met Commissioner.”
The Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “I am devastated to hear that the teenage girl who was stabbed in the town centre this morning has tragically died. The Council are in touch with the police and will fully support their investigations. Our whole community’s thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends.”
The schoolgirl is the 16th teenager to be murdered in the capital this year, 13 of whom were stabbed.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or has information that can help officers is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 1601/27Sep. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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