14-Year-Old Boy Fatally Stabbed on London Bus in Daylight Attack

A 14-year-old boy was tragically stabbed to death in broad daylight on a London bus on Tuesday, marking yet another knife crime incident in the city.

The attack occurred on one of London’s iconic double-decker buses in Woolwich, southeast London. Paramedics provided emergency treatment on-site, but the boy succumbed to his injuries shortly after their arrival, according to a police statement. No arrests have been made at this time.

This incident adds to a troubling trend of knife-related violence in London. In August, an 11-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing at Leicester Square, with a 32-year-old man later arrested. 

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In September, another teenager was fatally stabbed in Woolwich. Prosecutors have linked that incident to “tit-for-tat violence” resembling a turf war, with three young men now facing trial.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has labeled knife crime a “national crisis.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his sympathy on X, stating, “My thoughts are with the family, friends, and wider community in Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.”

Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Matthew Pennycook, also responded to the tragedy, saying he was “deeply saddened that yet another young life has been lost in our community.”

Rising Knife Crime Statistics

Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that knife crime in England and Wales increased by 4% in the year leading up to June 2024, compared to the previous year. However, levels remain below those recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Labour government, which has been in power since July, has pledged to reduce knife crime by half within the next decade. As part of this initiative, a ban on certain knives and machetes came into effect in September, with plans to extend the prohibition to ninja swords in the near future.

FAQs

• Where did the incident occur?

The stabbing took place on a double-decker bus in Woolwich, southeast London.

• What is the broader context of knife crime in London?

London has seen a series of knife-related crimes, with a notable increase of 4% in knife crime incidents in England and Wales over the past year.

• How has the government responded to knife crime?

The Labour government has vowed to halve knife crime within the next decade and recently implemented a ban on certain weapons, including knives and machetes.

• What did London Mayor Sadiq Khan say about the incident?

Mayor Khan expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and the Greenwich community, calling the incident appalling.

• Are there any suspects in custody?

No arrests have been made in connection with the 14-year-old boy’s stabbing at this time.