Boy, 15, is charged with murder of youth, also 15, after he was stabbed to death in Croydon
Boy, 15, is charged with murder of youth, also 15, after he was stabbed to death in Croydon as 2021 became bloodiest year on record for teenage homicides in London
Zaian Aimable-Lina was attacked around 7pm in Ashburton Park, Croydon, and pronounced dead shortly afterA 15-year-old suspect is due to appear before magistrates in Bromley, south London, on Tuesday In an unrelated case, a boy, 16, was knifed to death minutes later at Philpotts Farm Open Space in Hillingdon
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A teenage boy has been charged with the murder of 15-year-old Zaian Aimable-Lina – after London‘s teenage murder toll hit a record high of 30 killings in a single year.
Zaian had died at the scene of the attack in Ashburton Park, Croydon, south London, shortly after 7.30pm on Thursday December 30. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.
A suspect, who is also 15 and has not been named by police because of his age, is due to appear before magistrates in Bromley, south London, on Tuesday.
Another boy, also 15, was released under investigation having originally been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Zaian was one of two teenagers stabbed to death in London within an hour on Thursday.
The second victim, a 16-year-old boy fatally attacked in Yiewsley, west London, made 2021 the bloodiest year on record for teenage homicides in London.
The victim of the second stabbing has yet to be named but a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard said: ‘My thoughts continue to be with Zaian’s family and friends as they cope with this tragic loss. My team are continuing to work around the clock so that we can give Zaian’s family the answers they deserve.
Zaian Aimable-Lina was attacked just after 7pm in Ashburton Park, but died around half an hour later after paramedics weren’t able to save him
‘Zaian’s death has sent shockwaves through the local community and London as a whole. He was just 15- years-old and had his whole life ahead of him and we need the community to work with us to bring those responsible to justice. No matter how insignificant you may think it, if you have information that can help, you must do the right thing and contact us immediately.’
Superintendent Dan Knowles, of the South Area Command Unit, which polices Croydon, said: ‘This tragic loss of a young life on our streets has rightly and understandably caused considerable concern among the local community.
‘Our colleagues in Specialist Crime are continuing their investigation and my officers are carrying out enhanced patrols in the local area. I urge anyone who can help us to approach those officers and tell us what you know.’
Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 5443/30Dec. To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
His death came just minutes before police were called to reports of an injured male at the Philpotts Farm Open Space close to Heather Lane in Yiewsley, Hillingdon, west London.
The reasons behind the boys’ stabbings are as yet unclear but their deaths took the number of teenagers killed in the capital last year to 30. The previous highest toll was 29 in 2008.
The brutal new high of deaths will inevitably heap more pressure on Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has claimed knife crime in London has gone down, to seize control of the gang and stabbing epidemic sweeping the capital’s streets.
And anti-knife crime campaigners warned not enough was being done to tackle the problem as they criticised what they called London’s ‘scattergun’ approach.
Pictured: the faces of teenagers senselessly killed in London in 2021. Top row left to right: Anas Mezenner, 17, Hani Solomon, 18, Drekwon Patterson, 16, Tai Jordan O’Donnell, 19, Ahmed Beker , 19, Camron Smith, 16, and Damarie Omare Roye, 16, Mazaza Owusu-Mensah, 18, Ezra Okobia, 14, (not pictured), Hussain Chaudhry, 18. Second row left to right: Levi Ernest-Morrison, 17, Fares Maatou, 14, Alex Ajanaku, 18, (not pictured) Abubakkar Jah, 18, Tamim Ian Habimana, 15, Jermaine Cools, 14, Tashawn Watt, 19, Hazrat Wali, 18, Rishmeet Singh, 16, Romario Opia, 15. Bottom row left to right: Jalan Woods-Bell, 15, Keane Flynn-Harling, 16, Kamran Khalid, 18, Taylor Cox, 19, Denardo Samuels-Brooks, 17, Stelios Averkiou, 16, (not pictured) Daniel Laskos, 16, Nikolay Vandev, 19, Unnamed boy, 15, Unnamed boy, 16
Police tape is seen at Ashburton Park in Croydon, south London, where London’s 29th stabbing victim died
A police van is seen at the scene of the 29th teenage killing in London at Ashburton Park, December 31
An 18-year-old who lives nearby the field where the 16-year-old was fatally stabbed in Hillingdon on Thursday evening said that young people are increasingly carrying knives.
Bradley Wicks, a student at Brighton University who was home in Hillingdon for Christmas, said: ‘I was out at the time and my mum called me to ask if I was OK.
‘When the reports came out today and I saw it was in that field at around 8.30pm, it must have been pitch black there at that time, I hadn’t heard anything more about it.
‘Hearing that it had happened wasn’t a surprise but very sad. It happens all the time in London now.
‘I’ve never had any issues with anyone from all my time living here but you never know what you can get yourself into.
‘I think it’s getting worse, there’s more and more people getting involved in this sort of stuff and then people getting involved to protect themselves now too.’
Police tape is secured at the scene of the stabbing in Hillingdon after a 16-year-old boy was knifed to death near Heather Lane
Police activity is seen on December 31 at the scene of the stabbing in Hillingdon
Police officers appear to search through Philpot’s Farm Open Space in Hillingdon after the stabbing
Police officers appear to search in drains for something at the scene of the Hillingdon stabbing on December 31
Forensic officers are spotted taking pictures of the scene of last night’s stabbing in Hillingdon on December 31
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was devastated following the deaths of the two teenagers but claimed that knife crime had gone down in the capital.
He said: ‘I am truly devastated by the deaths of a 15-year-old boy in Croydon and a 16-year-old boy in Hillingdon.
‘Senseless violence has once again resulted in the loss of two young men with their lives in front of them and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families, friends and communities at this awful time.
‘I continue to remain in close contact with the Met Police who are doing everything possible to bring those responsible for these killings to justice. Anyone with information should contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously. There is absolutely no honour in staying silent.’
He added: ‘The safety of Londoners will always be my number one priority.
‘That is why I’m determined to continue leading from the front by being tough on crime – investing record amounts in policing to put more officers on the streets – and tough on its complex causes, with plans in place to deliver positive opportunities to almost 100,000 young Londoners over the course of the next year, helping to divert them away from violence by providing them with tailored support at key moments in their lives.
‘Since before the pandemic, the level of knife crime and youth violence in London has been decreasing meaning fewer violent attacks, fewer victims in hospital and fewer young offenders.
‘Sadly, due to the increasing ferocity of the attacks, this hasn’t yet translated to fewer teenage homicides.
‘I refuse to accept that the loss of young lives is inevitable and will continue to be relentless in taking the bold action needed to put an end to violence in our city.’
The 15-year-old was stabbed to death during an assault in Ashburton Park in Croydon (pictured, officers at the scene)
