LONDON – A teenager was stabbed to death in front of horrified London tourists and passers-by as he tried to flee from a gang of youths on bikes.
Evening Standard reports that the 17-year-old, named locally as Fola Orebiyi, collapsed and bled to death in Portobello Road last night, just yards from busy pubs and restaurants.
Witnesses said the former pupil of Holland Park School, who was studying A-levels, was knifed in the neck close to Westbourne Grove and Portobello Arts Club at about 8.45pm on Sunday.
Paramedics tried to save him but he died at the scene. He was the fourth teenager to be stabbed to death in London this year.
A fight is said to have broken out on a nearby estate before Fola was chased into the road. Mark Gettleson, who lives nearby, said he heard the cries of shop staff as they tried to help the teenager when he collapsed opposite the “World Famous Portobello Market” sign.
“I heard commotion then someone scream, ‘Did anybody see anything?’” said Mr Gettleson. “Police were talking to the poor boy who was in a bloody heap on the floor.
“There were two large pools of blood where he had staggered down the road before collapsing.
“People saw him fall down and try to get to his feet again. Police and medics tried to resuscitate him for a long time.
“This will shake people around here to the core. It’s absolutely tragic.
“We need to get the individuals who did this off our streets.
“We need to understand why our children are turning to such horrific violent acts.”
Fola was said to be studying A-levels at Chelsea Academy. One of his cousins described him as a “caring and lovely” boy with a bright future and said his mother was “distraught”.
She was being comforted by family members at their home just minutes from the crime scene.
The cousin added: “All we have been told is that he was stabbed in the neck. There has been an outpouring of love for him. He was a person people wanted to know and be around.”
Afaf Badr, who son studied with the teenager who was fatally stabbed on Portobello Road said he was a hard worker who was nothing to do with gangs.
Visiting the crime scene today she said: “He was a good, very clever boy.
“He was not involved in gangs and it is a tragedy that someone who us genuinely a good person gets caught up in this.
“We are all devastated and my son and all of us are fm grieving.”
Floral tributes were laid at the scene where he was attacked.
Neighbour Osman Sahal said half an hour before the murder, “I saw him outside the house, everything looked normal.
“He was a nice boy, very considerate. As far as I knew he was never in trouble.”
Friends paid tribute to the teenager, posting a picture of him with a garland of flowers added.
Scotland Yard said a murder inquiry had been launched and there were no arrests.
