Teen homicides in London rise to 30 in 2021 following 16-year-old's death
A teenage boy died after suffering from a puncture wound in Hillingdon
Last updated 4th Jan 2022
A murder investigation has been launched after a 16-year-old boy died from a puncture wound in West London.
The teenager's death closely followed a separate incident in Croydon last night, involving a 15-year-old boy who died from fatal stab wounds.
The two deaths take the number of teenage homicides in London up to 30 in 2021, surpassing a previous peak of 29 in 2008.
Met police say officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at 7:34pm last night (Thursday 30 December) to reports of an injured boy in Hillingdon.
When arriving at Philpotts Farm Open Space, close to Heather Lane in Yiewsley, officers found a 16-year-old suffering from a puncture wound.
Despite paramedics' best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:25pm.
The boy's family have been informed, who are being supported by specially-trained officers. Formal identification and a post-mortem exam will be carried out in due course.
There have been no arrests and enquiries are continuing, while detectives from the Specialist Crime Command are said to be investigating.
A plea to parents
Speaking from the scene of the stabbing in Croydon, where a 15-year-old boy also died despite the best efforts of police and paramedics, Met Police Commander Alex Murray said:
"My message today, other than speaking to the families and friends of those that London has lost, is to say you cannot carry knives in London.
"This is what happens when knives are carried and we all have a role in relation to tackling knife crime."
In a message to parents at the scene in Croydon, he added: "If you have concerns, talk to your kids.
"Make sure they're not carrying knives, make sure they're not hanging around with kids carrying knives.
"We don't know who has knives but we can find out and we can stop them hurting someone or being hurt."
"To the family of this 15-year-old lad, and to the family of the young man who was killed in Hillingdon, the poignancy of the time of year - I have got teenagers myself - all I can say is that the Met is reaching out to you and we'll do everything we can to bring those offenders to justice.
"We can't imagine the pain that you are going through.
"But you must know that we are absolutely committed to bringing those offenders to justice, but also tackling violence across the whole of London so that more mums and dads don't have to be in a position that they're in right now.
"And I can't imagine the unbearable pain that they must be in right now."