Evelyn Smith
New Year’s Eve is supposed to be a period of happiness and great euphoria but the reverse was the case in London and its environs after various tragedies struck on New Year’s Eve.
Many individuals were spending New Year’s Eve with friends and family, trying to usher in the new year in a joyous mood but some bad eggs in the society still selected that day to perpetrate some evil acts.
According to reports, four different killings which have been found to be unrelated all took place in London and it’s environs on New Year’s Eve.
The unrelated attacks took place in West Ham, Tulse Hill, Enfield and Old Street between 11 O’clock in the morning on New Year’s Eve and 2:30 am on New Year’s Day.
The murders have all been confirmed to be knife attacks with reports from the police stating that all of the victims of the knife attacks were all aged between seventeen and twenty.
It has also been confirmed that two of the victims of the attacks were teenagers taking the number of teenagers murdered in London in 2017 to twenty-six.
2017 was also a terrible year for London in terms of stabbings as according to statistics, the deaths recorded yesterday took the death toll for teenagers by stabbing to twenty.
That astonishing number is the highest number recorded in the capital city in over a decade.
In the wake of the murders, Commander Neil Jerome of the Met’s Territorial Policing Command spoke about the murders to the press.
The Commander revealed that the vast majority of New Year’s Eve revelers had been peaceful and law-abiding before adding,
‘There were small groups who chose to engage in disorder and violence, and whose actions have had utterly tragic consequences’
‘It is heart-breaking that, at a time when so many of us are contemplating what lies ahead in 2018, four families are dealing with the grief of losing a loved one to senseless violence and the callous use of knives as lethal weapons.’
The police have also been working really hard on the case and five men have been detained in connection with the killing in Enfield although no arrests have been made in the other cases.
In Tulse Hill where the first murder took place, local resident Clive Townsend described how he watched a group of about 10 teenagers ‘arguing and shouting’ before police arrived at the scene.
He said the group stood around a bus stop and he suspected a fight had taken place before officers were able to swoop on the scene.
According to Clive Towsend, an officer then appeared to be trying to revive someone lying on the ground at the bus stop where a forensic tent remained in place this afternoon.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said today,
‘The police have today assured me that everything is being done to bring to justice those responsible for these appalling acts of violence. The police were out in force helping people enjoy our city’s fantastic celebrations last night, and I thank them. However, it is horrific that knife crime has claimed another four young lives as the New Year begins.’
He further said,
‘We will work tirelessly in 2018 and beyond to stamp out this scourge. I want to be absolutely clear – if you use a knife the full force of the law will be brought down on you. You will be caught and prosecuted.’
Hopefully, the Mayor’s office and the police can work hand in hand to stamp out knife killings in London this year.
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