A teenage girl from a leading private school was fatally stabbed moments after she rejected flowers from a boy, The Telegraph understands.
The 15-year-old, who has not been identified, was attacked outside a shopping centre on Wellesley Road, a major road running through Croydon town centre, at around 8.30am on Wednesday.
The Old Palace of John Whitgift school confirmed the victim was a pupil and said staff are shocked by her “senseless and tragic death”.
Eyewitnesses at the scene claimed an argument erupted on a bus between the girl, her friends and pupils from another local school, which then spilled over onto the pavement.
According to one eyewitness, the girl was stabbed after rejecting flowers that were given to her by a boy.
She was pronounced dead on the pavement despite desperate attempts by members of the public and emergency crews to save her.
In a police press conference at the scene in Croydon, Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain said a 17-year-old boy had been arrested in New Addington and remains in police custody.
For the latest updates follow below
02:39 PM BST
Press conference comments – ‘Community feeling hurt right now’
Here are the comments from a press conference held by the Metropolitan Police in Croydon. Donna Murray-Turner, Sarah Jones and Jason Perry all spoke along with Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain.
Donna Murray-Turner, chairwoman of the local Safer Neighbourhood Board
The impact this has had on the community is immense. It is devastating that another young life has been taken and we the community stand with our partners and the family and honouring that grief and that morning
Croydon MP Sarah Jones
I’m heartbroken that a child in my town has been killed on her way to school and I cannot imagine the grief that her family will be going through at this time.
I want to thank the police and the ambulance services for trying so hard to save her life. They run into danger and I know they will be suffering today, too.
I want to repeat the request from the police that if anybody has any information so anything please do get in touch.
We all hold our children close and our community will take time to grieve, but for today we are just thinking of this young girl and her family. I’m so sorry.
Croydon mayor Jason Perry
We all personally feel devastated by the events that have happened here in Croydon this morning and the tragic loss of such a young life.
The community are feeling that hurt right now and we will do everything we can to support the community through such a very difficult time.
02:20 PM BST
Pictures: Flowers at the scene
Flowers have been laid at the scene in Croydon where the schoolgirl was stabbed to death.
02:13 PM BST
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain – ‘This is every parent’s worst nightmare’
The press conference has now finished.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain said the victim’s family have been informed and that the boy was arrested within 75 minutes of the stabbing.
He says initial investigations show the suspect may have known the victim.
He was joined by Croydon resident and safer neighbourhood chair Donna Murray-Turner, Labour MP for Croydon Sarah Jones and Croydon Mayor Jason Perry.
02:07 PM BST
Boy, 17, arrested in New Addington
Police confirm a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington and remains in custody.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain says no-one else is being sought in connection with the stabbing.
Chief Supt Brittain adds force is not yet able to identify the 15-year-old victim.
02:05 PM BST
Police press conference
A Metropolitan Police press conference is under way in Croydon.
01:52 PM BST
Youth worker – Victim’s friends ‘in shock and devastated’
Friends of the girl who was stabbed were the ones who first alerted her parents that their daughter had died, Ewan Somerville reports.
James Watkins, a youth worker at Mainzworld which acts as a family liaison in these situations, said the family “got here after” their daughter had died, between 9am and 10am
“They we’re unable to say goodbye,” he told The Telegraph.
Mr Watkins spoke to and supported the victim’s family when they visited the scene shortly after their daughter died.
“They were in shock and devastated, it doesn’t feel real to them. They said a lot of things – it was shock and disbelief.”
01:48 PM BST
Old Palace of John Whitgift School pay tribute to ‘much-loved’ pupil
Old Palace of John Whitgift School have now released a statement confirming the 15-year-old victim was a pupil.
We are deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of our much-loved and valued friend and pupil.
It will take some time for the Old Palace community to come to terms with this terrible news, and we will offer support to our pupils as we try to do so.
Above all, we send our love and deepest sympathies to the girl’s family at this unimaginably distressing time.
01:28 PM BST
Map: Where fatal stabbing took place
01:08 PM BST
Private schoolgirl, 15, stabbed to death after row with pupil from another school
A teenage girl from a leading private school was stabbed to death after an argument with a pupil from another school, The Telegraph understands.
The 15-year-old, who has not been named, was attacked outside a shopping centre on Wellesley Road, a major road running through Croydon town centre, at around 8.30am on Wednesday.
The Telegraph understands that the girl was a pupil at Old Palace of John Whitgift school, a 134-year-old girls’ school close by.
Eyewitnesses at the scene claimed an argument erupted on a bus between the girl, her friends and pupils from another local school, which then spilled over onto the pavement.
According to one eyewitness, the girl was stabbed after rejecting flowers that were given to her.
12:59 PM BST
Labour MP Sarah Jones pays tribute to teenage girl
Sarah Jones, Labour MP for Croydon Central, paid tribute to the teenager, Fiona Parker reports.
Posting on Facebook, the local MP said: “I am heartbroken that a child has been killed on her way to school.
“I cannot imagine what her family and friends are going through at this horrific time.”
She added: “Thank you to the police and ambulance services for trying to save her life. ‘Please anyone who witnessed anything, ring 101.”
11:57 AM BST
Sadiq Khan says he’s ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by schoolgirl’s death
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I am absolutely heartbroken by the death of a 15-year-old girl in Croydon this morning.
“My thoughts and prayers are with this young girl’s family and friends, and the whole community, at this unimaginably awful time.
“An arrest has been made in connection with this incident and I am in close contact with the Met Commissioner.
“I urge anyone with any further information to call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously. I promise to continue working day and night to end the scourge of knife crime in our city.”
11:42 AM BST
Locals laying flowers at the scene
Police spoke to guests having breakfast in the Leonardo Hotel near the scene of the stabbing in Wellesley Road, Ewan Somerville reports.
Officers asked receptionists and those sat in the lobby what they saw, but many were only aware after police cars flocked to the scene.
A crowd of locals have gathered at the scene and some are laying flowers.
One man claimed he had bumped into a group of schoolchildren wearing green blazers in the aftermath of the attack, who claimed there was an argument on the bus between two groups of boys that turned violent.
11:23 AM BST
Hotel manager tried to save stab victim
A hotel manager rushed to the aid of a 15-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in Croydon, Ewan Somerville reports.
The duty manager of Leonardo Hotel on Wellesley Road was leaving her shift to get the bus when she first saw the girl fighting for her life and losing lots of blood.
The woman, named Malaika, ran back into the hotel while screaming “a girl has just been stabbed” and told her colleagues to give her towels and bin bags immediately to help, making her one of the first people on the scene.
Beldine Kutima, who works at the hotel, told The Telegraph: “One of our duty managers went to get the bus but she came back in screaming and grabbing towels from the back room.
“She ran out there with bin bags and towels. She was crying and in shock – she needed painkillers after.”
11:13 AM BST
Croydon Mayor releases statement
Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry said in a statement on Facebook: “I am devastated to hear that the teenage girl who was stabbed in the town centre this morning has tragically died.
“The Council are in touch with the police and will fully support their investigations. Our whole community’s thoughts will be with the victim’s family and friends.
“A suspect, who is believed to have known the victim, has been located and arrested by local police officers, and I would like to thank all those who responded so quickly and professionally to the incident.
“I urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the police on 101 or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
11:11 AM BST
Pictured: Police on the scene in Croydon
Pictures have emerged of police at the scene in Croydon where a girl was fatally stabbed on Wednesday.
10:44 AM BST
Ambulance statement
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called today (27 September) at 8:33am to reports of an incident on Wellesley Road, Croydon.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene, including three ambulance crews, an incident response officer, and an advanced paramedic in a car. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated a teenager, but very sadly, despite our best efforts, she died at the scene.”
10:42 AM BST
Detectives confirm an arrest has been made
Detectives confirmed a man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain said: “Our immediate thoughts are with this young girl’s family who are facing the most tragic of news. Our officers are with the girl’s family to support them.
“I am in contact with the local community, who are clearly as concerned as we are about this tragic incident. I shall continue to update them throughout the day.
“My officers were immediately on scene to provide first aid and support paramedics.
“Acting on information provided to them, officers also worked closely with colleagues from across the Met and the British Transport Police to track a teenager in connection with the stabbing. I can confirm that an arrest was made at about 09:45hrs in the Croydon area. At this early stage we believe that he may have known her.
“A crime scene will be in place for some time, and I am grateful for the cooperation of residents.”
10:37 AM BST
Schoolgirl fatally stabbed in Croydon
A 15-year-old schoolgirl has been fatally stabbed in Croydon.
Police were called to reports of an attack near the Whitgift shopping centre on Wednesday. Footage taken at the scene shows multiple police cars and ambulances at a cordon on Wellesley Road.
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