Blacknews.uk Exclusive Story Tragic stories of the teens stabbed to death this year in London knife crime spree Fares Ma...

Blacknews.uk Exclusive Story Tragic stories of the teens stabbed to death this year in London knife crime spree Fares Maatou, 14, is the youngest and the latest victim after he was stabbed in broad daylight outside a pizza restaurant in Canning Town in his school uniform on Friday. Fares Maatou is the 11th and youngest teenage fatal stabbing victim. The tragic death of a 14-year-old boy brings the total number of teenagers fatally stabbed in London this year to 11. Fares Maatou is the capital's latest victim after he was knifed in broad daylight outside a pizza restaurant in Canning Town in his school uniform on Friday afternoon. At the same time last year, five teenagers had been murdered so the grim figure for the last four months presents a concerning forecast for the rest of 2021 - and it comes despite the country spending most of that time under tough lockdown restrictions. In 2020 the number of teen knife crime deaths in the capital was 17, in a sharp fall from the 25 victims in 2019. However the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns last year resulted in a drop in most crime across the board. In 2018 a total of 24 teenagers were killed in the capital, 18 of them knifed to death. The year before that 26 teenagers were murdered in London, the most since 2008 when the grim toll was 29. After Fares' death , London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: "This is utterly devastating. My heart breaks for the family and friends of this young man." These are the teenagers who have lost their lives to knife crime in London this year so far. Fares was said to have been defending a friend when he was killed in the street. Anas Mezenner The 17-year-old became the first teenager to be stabbed to death in London after he was repeatedly knifed in Haringey, north London, on January 20. The "quiet and humble" student had left the family home to help friends after a pal had their mobile phone stolen when he was attacked just after 9pm. Paramedics performed CPR at the scene as they battled to save him before he was rushed to hospital where he died in the early hours of the next morning. A devastated friend said Anas was well liked among everybody at the youth club where he helped out. Two 16-year-old boys have been charged with his murder. Romario Opia The 15-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death in north London on January 25. Romario had reportedly gone out to get some food from a chip shop when he was knifed and died at the scene in Islington shortly after 5.30pm. A close family friend spoke at the time about how much he will be missed and what a 'beautiful' and 'loving' boy he was. Carly, 40, a childhood friend of Romario's mum, added: "There’s no words really. It’s devastating. He was beautiful, fun, loving and always interacting with the children. "He was a lovely boy. He was a baby. He was a kid. It shouldn’t have happened." Hani Solomon The teenager was stabbed to death near Parsons Green Tube station just three weeks before his 19th birthday. Hani died at the scene after police and paramedics were called to reports of a street fight on February 11 Devastated friends described the teenager as a "good guy" who "showed the same love and the same respect for everyone". He had just got his first car and wanted to go into business. Two teenagers have been charged with his murder. Drekwon Patterson The 16-year-old was driven into by a car before he was chased by a group of four and brutally stabbed to death in north London. Drekwon was found with serious stab wounds in Wembley on February 18 and rushed to hospital where he died the next day. It is believed a black Ford Mondeo, subsequently burnt out, was used in the murder. Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, in charge of policing in Brent, said: "It is another tragedy that a boy of just 16 years old has died as the result of a knife crime. "My thoughts are with his family at this time and my officers, alongside homicide detectives, are doing everything they can to identify and arrest those responsible.” Ahmed Beker The 19-year-old was stabbed to death outside a branch of KFC in west London on February 26. Ahmed was attacked in Paddington Green just 100 metres from where his 17-year-old cousin Josiph was fatally knifed in 2019. Josiph's dad James Beker said his family would 'never heal'. He added: "He (Ahmed) was humble, he was kind. He never had a loud voice. He was a quiet guy. "I’m so shocked and devastated. It's hurting me. It reminds me what happened. It’s the same thing again. Tai O'Donnell The "kind and respectful" music student was stabbed to death inside a home in south London. Tai suffered a number of fatal stab wounds to his thighs at the address in Croydon on March 3. The 19-year-old's mum Stacey O'Donnell shared a heartfelt statement about her sonpraising his "creative skills, charm, charisma and high energy." She said: "He was one in a million, a loving, kind, beautiful human being and we as family couldn’t be prouder of the man he was growing into." A 22-year-old woman has been charged with his murder. Mazaza Owusu-Mensah The 18-year-old law student was stabbed to death in South London on March 6. Mazaza was attacked in a residential street in Abbey Wood in the afternoon. Lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Darren Jones said: “Mazaza died on a residential street during lockdown when people would have been at home. "It is very likely that a number of people saw what happened and I am keen to hear from anyone who has information but is yet to come forward. “Another young life has been ended at the point of a blade, another family is left devastated – if you have seen information on social media or have any other information about who is responsible, we would encourage you to do the right thing - come forward and tell us what you know.” Nikolay Vandev The 19-year-old died in a triple stabbing in north London. Two 18-year-olds were also injured in the knife attack in Tottenham on March 8 just after 1.50pm. Nikolay was pronounced dead at the scene. One man sustained minor injuries and the other sustained non-life threatening knife wounds - both were treated in hospital. Two boys aged 15 and 17 have been charged with murder. Hussain Chaudhry The teenage law student was stabbed in the neck during an attempted theft at his family business in east London. The mum and brother of the 18-year-old were also injured during the attack in Walthamstow on March 17 Hussain died at the scene outside his home and his family were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. His uncle Reiss Chaudhry said Hussain died in his mum's lap. A teenager has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. Levi Ernest-Morrison The 17-year-old died following a knife attack in south London on April 10. Police officers were called to a street in Sydenham at around 7.20pm after reports that someone had been stabbed. Levi’s mum, who did not wish to be named, paid tribute to her son, who she said loved helping others despite his own additional needs and his disability, which required him to use a walking stick, made him “like a target.” A 36-year-old woman and three boys aged 14, 15 and 17 have been charged with murder. Fares Maatou The 14-year-old was stabbed to death in broad daylight in east London on Friday afternoon. Witnesses said the teenager was wearing his school uniform when he was attacked in Canning Town "for his electric scooter". Fares died at the scene. He is youngest teenager to be stabbed to death in the capital this year. Two boys aged 14 and 15 have been arrested on suspicion of murder, while another 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident. Anyone who witnessed or has information about any of the stabbings should call on 101, tweet @MetCC. or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The black community continue to cry out for solutions. Blacknews.uk spoke to community leader Brother Nia Imara of https://www.nabss.org.uk (National Association Of Black Supplementary schools) who commented regarding the latest killing ... ”Yet again another young LIFE senselessly taken. It’s like Groundhog Day. Fares a 14 year old, stabbed in the head with a Samurai sword. In school uniform, 4pm on Friday afternoon! THIS MADNESS HAS TO STOP! We are all sick and tired of OUR CHILDREN being killed on OUR STREETS by OUR CHILDREN!The authorities don’t care enough to really do whatever’s needed to change this. But we need to CARE and care enough to DO SOMETHING!WE HAVE TO ACT!This is all of our problem and our collective responsibility for OUR COMMUNITY.No one else is going to fix this problem for us.IT STARTS WITH US!Yes we know we are all busy, with work and jobs and family. But WE have to do something. We have to be willing to SACRIFICE our TIME if we want to see CHANGE. PLEASE respond and let us know WHAT YOU’RE WILLING TO DO. What can you give to help SAVE A YOUNG LIFE? Even if it’s only 1 hour a week, a fortnight or a month. But we need EVERYONE to COME TOGETHER and WORK TOGETHER if we’re going to SAVE OUR CHILDREN.It doesn’t matter where you live, this affects us all. Our children are not protected from this level of violence until our communities take a stand, take the lead, make some noise, show our hurt, pain and anger and demand action from each other to make the change necessary to save the lives of our children.” BlackNews.UK