A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the attempted murder of a child asylum seeker in west London. He has been remanded into secure accommodation and will appear at the Old Bailey next month.
The charges follow a stabbing incident close to a hotel in the west London area used by the Home Office to accommodate adult male asylum seekers just before midnight on 22 October.
Initially the victim had been classified as an adult by the Home Office, but he was later confirmed to be a child. He was taken to hospital following the stabbing. After being discharged, he was taken into the care of children’s social services in the borough where the hotel is situated.
The Guardian has received reports that the asylum seeker, who was being accommodated at the hotel, was found bleeding near the building after the incident.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said officers were called at 11.36pm on Saturday 22 October after receiving reports of a stabbing.
The spokesman said that along with the 15-year-old who has been charged with attempted murder, a 17-year-old was arrested on 27 October for attempted murder. He was later charged with making threats to kill. He is due to appear at Uxbridge magistrates court on 3 November.
