A teenager was chased and stabbed to death on a housing estate last night in London’s fifth murder in five days.
Police found the 18-year-old suffering from knife wounds at 8pm in North Road, Islington. Residents heard the young man shouting "help me help me" before he "crumpled" to the ground.
A witness today described how she tried to save the teenager’s life after he was stabbed following a chase and fight lasting less than a minute.
The woman told the Standard: “I heard a ruckus then a cry of ‘help me help me’. There was a young man laying on the ground. I went out with other neighbours, he was still breathing.
“We tried to comfort him. His friend was with him shouting ‘raise your hand if you can hear me’. He was not conscious. The paramedics arrived very quickly then loads of police.
“There had been a bit of arguing then the boy shouting ‘help me help me’ then footsteps running away, all in the space of 30 seconds.
”I can’t get the image of the boy laying there. The neighbours did their best. It’s heartbreaking, our thoughts are with his family.”
Another resident said they heard “a desperate cry” after the victim was chased through the estate, near Caledonian Park, by a group of men.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics but later pronounced dead.
Officers are working to establish his identity and inform next of kin. No arrests have been made as inquiries continue.
Another witness said: “There was shouting and screaming and then a desperate cry. Police and paramedics turned up and there were flashing lights and sirens everywhere.
“There is a lot of trouble around here so we are used to screaming and shouting but this was a different level.”
Shamim Hussain said: “We have had two other stabbings around here in the last months. It’s a nightmare we are all scared for our families.”
A police cordon remains in place around North Road near the junction with Corporation Street.
Islington South MP Emily Thornberry tweeted: “Yet another young man has been stabbed to death on the streets of Islington. My thoughts are with his family and friends who are in shock at this tragic news.”
There have been four other deaths from violence in London over the past five days.
- Nahid Ahmed, 26, died from knife wounds yards from his Enfield home at 12.40am on Sunday;
- Anthony Higgins, 62, died after an assault in Wembley on Saturday;
- A 46-year-old man was killed in a suspected hit and run in Dagenham at 11.45pm on in Sunday;
- Daniel Bytyci, 18, from Harrow, died on September 10 after being stabbed in Pinner in August
Anyone with information on any of the cases is asked to call police on 101 or to remain anonymous 0800 555 111.