Teenager stabbed to death by gang of uniformed schoolboys
A gang of boys wearing school uniforms stabbed a teenager to death after cornering him at London’s Victoria station.
Staff and commuters watched in horror as up to 10 schoolboys chased the 15-year-old into the Underground station and launched their attack.
The boy, who has not yet been named, was left lying in a pool of blood with stab wounds to his upper body.
Detectives have arrested 20 teenagers in connection with the incident, which happened around 5.20pm on Thursday.
One Transport for London ticket office worker, who asked not to be named, said: "My colleague was right there as it unfolded. The boys attacking him couldn't have been any older than him as they were wearing a dark blue school uniform.”
Another member of staff added: "I saw too much, I saw him on the ground bleeding.”
The attack took place in the hall at the entrance to the ticket barriers leading to the District and Circle Underground lines.
It happened at the peak of the rush when the station was heaving with people and caused travel chaos for thousands of commuters.
Police closed the station while forensics officers scoured the scene for clues, meaning that no District and Circle Line services were able to stop at the station.
Local businesses said numerous scuffles between schoolchildren had taken place near the station in recent weeks.
Sarfraz Ahmed, who manages a shop in an arcade at the station, said: "One day last week a gang chased a boy into a shop and attacked him and trashed the place.
"They are about 15 or 16 and come here on their bikes.”
John Angeli, 47, a commuter from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, said he witnessed a row between schoolboys inside the mainline railway station the night before the attack.
He added: "There was a very tense situation just with about 10 or 15 kids all screaming. They were all in uniform, aged about 15 or 16.
"There were about two or three British Transport Police officers all struggling to keep things under control.
"I only watched it all for a couple of minutes but I saw the police call for backup to bring things under control.”
Detective Superintendent Ashley Croft, from British Transport Police, said: “BTP detectives are investigating the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy at Victoria London Underground station during the evening rush hour on Thursday, 25 March.
“This was a reckless act of violence that has resulted in a teenager tragically losing his life and our thoughts are with his family at this time.
“We are working closely with our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police to build up a picture of what took place immediately before, during and after the attack and ask anyone who was at the station at the time or who has any information to get in touch.”
“We believe the attack started on steps leading into the Tube station on Terminus Place before continuing into the Circle and District line booking hall."
Police said those arrested are aged between 14 and 17. They remain in custody at several London police stations and are due to be interviewed by later.
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