A 17-year-old boy continues to be questioned by detectives after a 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death on her way to school in an attack described by the Met police commissioner as “impossible to comprehend”.
The girl, named locally as Eliyanna, died after being attacked during the Wednesday morning rush hour in Croydon, south London, on her way to the private Old Palace of John Whitgift school for girls, where she studied.
The boy, who the police said knew the victim, was arrested just over an hour after the attack, nearly five miles away in New Addington. He remains in custody.
On Wednesday evening, the head of the Metropolitan police, Sir Mark Rowley, who attended the crime scene in person, said the “senseless murder” was “impossible to comprehend”.
More than 40 bunches of flowers and a number of cards and candles have been placed close to where the girl was stabbed.
One card said: “Rest in peace angel condolences to your family at this very sad time.” Another said: “Rest in peace little princess so sad your life is taken away at your prime. You have touched my soul.”
A large police cordon is in place outside the Whitgift shopping centre on Wellesley Road. A bus remains inside the cordon.
Anthony King, the chair of My Ends, a project helping combat youth violence in Croydon, was with the girl’s family after the incident and said they were “heartbroken”.
He added: “She had a bright future ahead of her. She was in her GCSE year.”
King described the girl as an “absolutely incredible young lady” and told of how others said she was “jovial, very comedic”.
The Old Palace of John Whitgift school said in a statement: “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.”
Witnesses or anyone with information have been asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference CAD 1601/27Sep, and those who wish to remain anonymous have been asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.
