Murder inquiry opens after teen stabbed to death

A murder investigation has opened after a teenage boy was fatally stabbed in Hackney, east London, on Monday evening.

Police were called out after reports of a stabbing and possible gunfire on Towpath Walk, following disorder that began at a house party on the same road.

Officers found a teenage boy with stab wounds on nearby Poplar Close. He was treated by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, but he died at the scene.

The Met said a large number of people were in the area at the time and believe many of those recorded the incident on mobile phones. Witnesses to the stabbing are being urged to come forward.

Police were initially called to sightings of people carrying machetes in the area as well as disorder following a large gathering, the force said.

The victim has not yet been formally identified, although officers are "working at pace" to inform the boy's family, the Met said.

Det Ch Insp Ben Massink, of the Met's Specialist Crime command, said there would be increased police patrols in the area and officers would be available for answering questions.

Massink added: "We know there were a significant number of people in the area at the time of the stabbing, and some individuals recorded the incident on their mobile phones.

"I would urge anyone who witnessed what happened or who has footage of the incident to come forward to police."

A crime scene remains in place on Towpath Walk and Poplar Close.

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