A tragic incident unfolded in South London’s Croydon area when a 15-year-old schoolgirl was fatally stabbed on her way to school. The incident reportedly occurred after she declined a flower offering from a boy. The girl, whose identity has not been disclosed, was attacked on a busy road on Wednesday morning, as per reports.
The incident was reportedly sparked by a disagreement that began on a double-decker bus between the girl, her friends, and students from another school. The dispute continued on the pavement outside a shopping center. Despite the desperate efforts of emergency responders, the girl was declared dead at the scene.
The news of her death was relayed to her parents by her friends, who arrived at the scene before them. James Watkins, a youth worker, described the family’s reaction as one of shock and disbelief. The family was struggling to come to terms with the reality of their loss, Watkins shared.
In the aftermath of the incident, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington and is currently in custody, according to Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain. The arrest was announced during a press conference held at the scene.
The victim was a student at Old Palace of John Whitgift, a local private school. The school community expressed their grief over the “senseless and tragic death” of their student. The school issued a statement expressing their sorrow and pledged to provide support to their students as they grapple with the loss.
In a poignant display of grief, flowers were laid near the scene of the incident within hours of the stabbing. Local MP Sarah Jones expressed her heartbreak over the incident, extending her condolences to the victim’s family. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also expressed his sorrow and pledged to tackle the issue of knife crime in the city.
The incident has sparked frustration among locals over the ongoing wave of violent crime in the area. Residents called for more proactive measures from the police and interventions in schools to prevent such incidents.