National & International

A 16-year-old boy was arrested after two teens were fatally stabbed in London

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According to the BBC.

South-east London police have arrested a 16-year-old boy, suspected of murdering two teenagers a mile apart.

Officers were called at about 17:10 GMT on Saturday to reports people had been injured in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, and Titmuss Avenue in Thamesmead.

Despite the attendance of police and paramedics, two 16-year-old boys were pronounced dead.

They have been named as Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo.

The victims’ families are being supported by specialist officers, police said.

The local MP, Abena Oppong-Asare, told BBC London the community was “in an overwhelming amount of shock”.

“Our focus needs to be on the families at the moment, as they try to come to terms with it. I have had some constituents contact me who are concerned, and also some who want to provide support.

“It’s heart breaking lives have been lost, this is a beautiful community. This does not happen on a day-to-day basis. People shouldn’t be scared.

“Agencies and organisations work very hard but we are clearly not doing enough,” the Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead added.

“I don’t want to be in the position of having to comment on the death of another young person.

“We all need to come together and do what’s best for the community.”

Following the announcement of the arrest, Det Ch Insp Kate Blackburn said in a statement: “This is a positive development in what is a complex and fast-moving investigation. Charlie and Kearne’s families have been informed.

“Our investigation is ongoing and we continue to appeal for the public’s help as we build a picture of what happened on Saturday night.

“If you have information, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please come forward.”

Speaking at one of the crime scenes earlier, Det Supt Richard McDonagh, said: “Homicide colleagues are investigating and are treating the two murders as linked.

“I can assure everybody affected by these murders that skilled detectives will work tirelessly to discover what happened and provide answers to the young victims and families.”

He added: “Officers are especially keen to hear from anyone who might have seen a dark-coloured SUV or 4×4 type with distinctive silver roof bars in the areas around Sewell Road or Titmuss Avenue in the days prior to the murders.”

IMAGE SOURCE: BBC NEWS / GRACE DONAGHY

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