Fatal stabbings of two 16-year-old boys in London linked - police

The fatal stabbings of two 16-year-old boys who were attacked just a mile apart in south-east London are linked, the Met Police has said.

Officers were called at about 17:10 GMT on Saturday to reports people had been injured in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, and Titmuss Avenue in Thamesmead.

Police and medics attended, but both boys were pronounced dead and a murder investigation has been launched.

The boys have been named as Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo.

Crime scenes are in place at both locations. No arrests have been made.

Speaking at one of the crime scenes, Det Supt Richard McDonagh, said: "Homicide colleagues are investigating and are treating the two murders as linked.

"I can assure everybody affected by these murders that skilled detectives will work tirelessly to discover what happened and provide answers to the young victims and families."

He added: "Officers are especially keen to hear from anyone who might have seen a dark-coloured SUV or 4x4 type with distinctive silver roof bars in the areas around Sewell Road or Titmuss Avenue in the days prior to the murders.

"We have already heard from a number of witnesses and I'm grateful to them."

A black Nissan on Titmuss Avenue has been cordoned off and officers said it was a "car of interest" in the investigation.

The Met has urged anyone with information to contact them. Overnight it was granted powers to stop and search people.

The boys' next of kin will be provided with support by specialist officers, police added.

Several teenage boys laid flowers and a red love heart balloon by the cordon in Titmuss Avenue.

Bamidele Folorunso, who lives nearby, said: "It is very sad.

"We just found out the boy was on the floor and the police came and they tried to resuscitate him."

She added: "Since then, everyone in the area has been mourning. It is very sad to lose a 16-year-old boy."

Victor, 30, a football manager who said he went to school with the victim's mother, said the stabbing was "not normal" for the area but things had got worse in recent years.

"There is not really a place where kids say 'this is a safe environment'."

"I've got three kids. I went and told my partner [about the stabbing] and she said 'I want to get out of here'."

'Rattling bins'

Teresa Cheshire, 50, who also lives on the road, said her children walk down the road every day.

"I just saw a lot of people by the bin shed. All I heard was the screaming and that was at 5.20pm," she said.

"It is scary because it is all in the press and everything but it is for all the wrong reasons.

"I'm frightened to let my kids outside now. It's just shocking."

Gillian Southwest, 48, who also lives on the road, said: "It is terrible. I have lived here for 28 years.

"If it's the boy I think it is he's a really a good boy."

A 32-year-old man, who did not wish to be named but lived on the road all his life, said he was waiting for an ambulance for his grandmother when a commotion began.

"I heard some noise at about 6 o'clock - the bins were all rattling.

"There are always some kids running through making noise but something like this is out of the ordinary.

"To hear something like this in this area is shocking."

BBC reporter Simon Jones, who is at the murder scene on Titmuss Avenue, said police say they have been trying to tackle the issue of knife crime and that last week they held a week-long operation targeting those who carry knives. This led to 500 arrests and 139 knives being removed from the streets.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: "Violent crime destroys lives and communities. The loss of two young lives in Greenwich is devastating."

Elsewhere, a man was shot at about 03:00 GMT on Stockwell Road, Stockwell, in south London. He was taken to hospital where his injuries were deemed not life-threatening or life changing.