Boy, 14, dies after stabbing on bus in south-east London | London

A 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, south-east London, in mid-afternoon.

Paramedics treated the teen at the scene, but he died shortly after they arrived, police said. Schools in the region returned to school on Monday after the Christmas holidays.

A Metropolitan Police statement said: “An investigation has been launched following the fatal shooting of a teenager on a bus this afternoon. Police were called at 2.28pm on Tuesday January 7 to reports of a stabbing on a bus in Woolwich, SE18.

“The incident happened on a route 472 bus on Woolwich Church Road, near the junction with the A205 South Circular Road.”

A video uploaded to X at 3:39 p.m. from the scene appeared to show paramedics carrying a body bag from the bus. Footage showed forensic police examining the bus.

Other videos and photographs from the scene showed the bus stopped on the east side of Church Street, opposite St Mary Magdalene Church. The bus was surrounded by nine police vehicles and an ambulance. Police officers could be seen boarding the bus with one side of the two-lane road closed to traffic. Later, both sides of the road were sealed off.

The man who filmed the video from his home, in an apartment overlooking the scene, told the Guardian: “I am extremely saddened. The state of the UK is in decline, the poor are getting poorer, the rich are getting richer. “There’s a lack of respect for life, where people don’t care about killing another human being, no matter how old they are.”

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “There is no discipline in this country, yet the mayor gets a knighthood. Knives are more prevalent than ever, how can anyone get on a public bus going home from school, work or wherever, and fear their life will be taken away. It’s shocking.

A woman working at the church said she saw an air ambulance and other emergency services vehicles arrive at the scene, but did not see any passengers from the bus.

Ten teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of them stabbed and one shot dead, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.

This figure is down sharply from the 21 teenage deaths recorded in the capital in 2023. The youngest victim in 2024 was aged 14.

The incident came after an 18-year-old man was stabbed opposite Shooters Hill Sixth Form College, in Woolwich, on Monday. The victim of the attack, which occurred around 4:20 p.m., is still in critical condition in hospital.

The college is approximately 2.4 km from the bus. Police do not currently believe the incidents are related.

A Met spokesperson said: “At this early stage of the investigation we do not believe the two stabbing incidents are linked. »

The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: “My thoughts are with family, friends and the wider community of Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy. »

He said: “This heartbreaking violence has absolutely no place in our city. I am in close contact with police officials – an investigation is underway and local residents will see an increase in patrols in the area.

“I would urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. There is no honor in remaining silent.”