Tributes pour in to schoolboy footballer, 14, stabbed to death on bus in ‘horrendous’ attack – as killer STILL on loose
A SCHOOLBOY stabbed to death on a bus has been described as “a good friend” as tributes pour in following the “horrendous” attack.
The victim, 14, was pronounced dead at the scene in Woolwich, south-east London, shortly before 2.30pm on Tuesday.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with his death, with an urgent police manhunt ongoing.
Pals of the boy have said he was “taken too soon” and described him as a keen footballer.
One friend told The Mirror: “That’s my friend. He’s my good friend. I used to see him after school, he didn’t deserve this. He was a nice person.
“I finished school and my mum told me he got stabbed. He was a very nice person.
“He was good at football, but I don’t think he was pursuing it as a career.”
A local resident also told MailOnline: “‘This is heartbreaking. I can’t believe this has happened. We have only just started the New Year.
“A 14-year-old boy stabbed in broad daylight on a bus. What is the world coming to?”
The horror unfolded on a Route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Road, near the junction with the A205 South Circular Road, at around 2.30pm.
Officers attended, along with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
Paramedics treated a 14-year-old boy at the scene who had received stab wound injuries, but he sadly died soon after.
Superintendent Louise Sergent earlier told a press briefing that the attack was a “horrendous crime”.
She added: “We are working at pace to arrest the person involved.”
Ms Sergeant described how the initial alert was made by a local police officer out on patrol.
She continued: “Paramedics treated a 14-year-old boy at the scene who had received stab wounds, but really sadly, he died shortly after medics arrived.
“Our thoughts at this time are with the victim’s family and friends.
“This is a horrendous crime, and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now.
“We are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.
“I know this will be a worrying time for everyone here in Woolwich, and all the more so given the very young age of the victim.”
The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan added: “My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.
“This heart-breaking violence has absolutely no place in our city.
“I am in close contact with police leaders – an investigation is underway and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area.”
Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.
This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023.
The youngest victim in 2024 was aged 14.