Two boys stabbed to death on London's streets

Two teenage boys have been stabbed to death within hours of one another on London's streets.

A 15-year-old was found wounded in Woolwich, south-east London, shortly before 17:30 BST on Monday.

Just over six hours later police were called to Oval Place, Vauxhall, where a 16-year-old boy was discovered stabbed.

No arrests have been made over the Oval Place attack but a 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the Woolwich stabbing.

To date, 21 teenagers have died in homicides in London in 2021. Across the whole of last year, 17 teenagers were killed in violent attacks in the capital.

If teenage deaths continue at the current rate, this will be the worst year for young homicides in London since 2008.

The 15-year-old boy was found with a stab injury on Woolwich New Road.

Pictures on social media showed members of the public holding up sheets to provide privacy as emergency crews tried to save the boy's life.

He was treated by paramedics but was pronounced dead at 18:10.

Three knives were visible on the street following the attack.

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of murder after he arrived at a south London hospital with a stab wound.

His injury was not thought to be life-threatening, the Met said.

Supt Petra Lazar said it was "shocking and extremely saddening that a teenage boy has lost his life as the result of knife crime".

The officer added that the attack would "understandably cause worry and concern to local residents and I would like to reassure them my officers are supporting the murder detectives in every way we can".

The 16-year-old boy who was killed in Oval Place, Vauxhall, was also pronounced dead at the scene.

Police and paramedics had been called to the area at 23:45. The families of both killed teenagers have been informed, Scotland Yard said.

"Unfortunately, as shocking as it is, it's not uncommon," said one resident of Elworth House near the site of the stabbing.

"You always have issues here. It's really bad," he said.

They warned it would happen. Now the prediction by the Met and City Hall, that violence would surge as lockdown eased, is being realised.

Last week the mayor announced more money for diversion schemes and the Met promised a "relentless focus… on suppressing violence".

It's hard not to feel sceptical. We've heard it all before and the killings continue - teenage lives, ebbing away on pavements as people film the chaos on their phones.

I've seen the Met's efforts to take weapons off the streets. I don't doubt officers' determination to stop the stabbings - after all, they are usually first on the scene, carrying the trauma of what they've seen way beyond the end of their shift.

Last year a police wellbeing survey carried out by the College of Policing found that 64% of officers had symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

But what of the trauma experienced by London's teenagers? We've asked time after time how we can stem the violence.

Now we must ask ourselves the same question once more because as those grieving in Vauxhall and Woolwich know all too well, what we are doing isn't working.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I am heartbroken and appalled by the deaths of two teenagers in our city.

"Every loss of life leaves a family and a community devastated. My thoughts remain with the victims' family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

"I am determined to do everything in my power to support the police and our communities to put an end to these horrendous crimes and keep our young people safe."