Boy, 16, is charged with attempted murder after two girls, 16 and 17, were ‘stabbed in the back’ – as CCTV ‘shows victims dropping off PS4 and iPhone at repair shop’ moments before attack
- Boy, 16, due in youth court today charged with two counts of attempted murder
- Teen girls, aged 16 and 17, were stabbed in broad daylight in London on Sunday
- The Met Police say girl, 16, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after two teenage girls were stabbed in London.
The two girls, aged 16 and 17, were stabbed multiple times in West Norwood, South-East London at around 4.30pm on Sunday.
They were taken to hospital where the 16-year-old remains in a critical but stable condition.
The 16-year-old boy was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder and was charged in the early hours of this morning.
The two teenage girls reportedly went into a repair shop to drop off a PlayStation and an iPhone before being stabbed. Pictured: CCTV which is believed to show the victims
Pictured: Police officers at the scene after two girls were stabbed in West Norwood, London
He is due to appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court today.
A woman who says she came to the victims’ aid said: ‘The girls had gone into the phone shop to get something repaired – a PlayStation, iPhone8 Plus and something else.
‘The boys were all waiting outside Iceland and you knew something was up because they were looking shifty.
‘When I came out of Iceland, I saw three boys running towards me, laughing. As I was walking to my car, a man said I needed to call an ambulance.
‘I said ‘what for’, and I saw the girl who said ‘I’ve been stabbed’.
‘They were just there. Nobody was helping them, I literally had to scream.
A police car next to a cordon in West Norwood after four teenage boys were arrested
The girls were treated by paramedics at a bus stop in West Norwood on Sunday afternoon
‘I lifted up her t-shirt and saw she had two stab wounds, one in the lower back and one further up.’
The witness believes the wounds had been inflicted using a screwdriver or ice pick because of their shape.
She claims she then shouted across the road to ask for help with the girl so she could then assist the other teenager, before calling the emergency services.
Three other boys, all aged between 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Two have been released on bail and the third has been released with no further action.
Police were called at 4.40pm on Sunday to reports of an assault on Norwood Road.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended and found the two girls suffering from stab injuries.
Witnesses reported they had been stabbed in the back after dropping off a PlayStation and an iPhone at a repair shop.
The two girls are said to have made their way onto Norwood Road, before one of them collapsed at a bus stop, according to eyewitnesses.
Their families are aware and the two girls are known to each other.
Detective Sergeant Rob Merrett of the Central South Command Unit, said: ‘Our investigation is still ongoing and I continue to urge anyone who has information, pictures and video that could assist us to make contact immediately.
‘It is imperative that we work with the community to fully establish what has happened here and bring any offenders to justice.’
Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference Cad 4970/25Apr. To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.