Two boys – aged 14 and 15 – were this morning arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 14-year-old was stabbed in Upper Holloway last night.
Police were called to Fairbridge Road at 6.50pm and found the boy suffering numerous stab wounds.
He was airlifted to hospital. His condition is serious but stable. His family is aware and with him in the hospital.
An 11-year-old boy was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder last night, but was then de-arrested with no further action to be taken.
Horrified witness Amina Taylor told the Gazette last night: “We were just having some tea, we heard raised voices. People who were in cafes were coming out to have a look. People came over to try to calm it and break things up.
“But then someone came down. We could see the knife in his hand. People were trying to stop him. It was the kind of blade you take out of your mum’s kitchen because it’s the biggest thing in her chopping block. It was a good eight inches. It was a carver chicken kind of vibe.”
Amina continued: “We couldn’t believe we saw him being stabbed. He was clutching his stomach, he was wearing a crisp white shirt, we then just saw the red stain spread and his legs gave way.
“It was clear by this time it was a serious incident. Luckily my son was at tennis today. We were just getting comfortable sending him to the corner shop.
“Who makes the decision to leave home with a knife? Who thinks that it’s something he needs and is prepared to use? And who else runs towards a group of people, at what looks like fisticuffs at dawn situation? It’s the spreading of that mindset that’s of concern to me, it’s somebody’s kids.”
As reported by the Gazette, serious knife crime among under-25s fell 13.3 per cent in 2017/18 compared to 2016/17.
But three young men have already been stabbed to death in Islington in 2018 alone. Steve Frank Narvaez-Jara, 20, was killed at a house party in Bartholomew Court, Old Street, on New Year’s Day. Kwasi Anim-Boadu, 20, was knifed in Roth Walk, Finsbury Park, on April 21. And Marcel Campbell, 30, was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Upper Street on May 21.
Last night’s stabbing came one day after the family of Ben Kinsella marked 10 years since his stab death with a 10k walk along the Regent’s Canal, to raise money for the anti-knife crime trust set up in his name.
Ben’s sister, Brooke, told the Gazette: “You feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall, sometimes. Every day, I pick up the paper and there’s another one stabbed. It’s soul destroying.”
Anyone who witnessed last night’s incident is asked to call police quoting reference CAD7206/July 1, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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