Investigation launched after 15-year-old killed in London park

Paramedics treated the boy for stab injuries but he died at the scene

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 31st Dec 2021
Last updated 4th Jan 2022

Met Police say detectives are investigating the death of a teenage boy who was found in a park in London.

Police were made aware of an assault in Ashburton Park in Croydon shortly after 7pm yesterday evening (Thursday 30 December).

Officers attending the scene found the 15-year-old boy suffering from stab injuries, and began to provide first aid before the London Ambulance Service arrived.

The boy was later pronounced dead at 7:36pm, and his family have been informed. The teenager has not yet been formally identified and a post-morten examination is set to be held.

Met Police say there have been no arrests at this stage but enquiries are continuing and a crime scene remains in place.

The killing is the 29th teenage homicide in London this year, which surpasses the 27 seen in 2017 - the highest in recent years.

Met Police Commander Alex Murray said: "I am deeply saddened by every single homicide this year, and greatly concerned by those that have been teenage killings. Each one is a tragedy leaving behind heartbroken families and distressed communities.

"My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted. They are not statistics, not just numbers, they all have families, and they all should have had their lives ahead of them.

"They and their families have been robbed of something precious and we should all be doing everything we can to stop this," he said.

Police are urging anyone with more information to contact 101 and give the code CAD 5443/30Dec.

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