Ladbroke Grove: Killing of Rene Graham, 15, is 'shocking reminder' of need to tackle street violence, says Starmer

The shooting of a teenage boy in a west London park is a "shocking reminder" of the need to bring down violence on Britain's streets, the Prime Minister said on Wednesday.

Sir Keir Starmer told Prime Minister’s Questions that his thoughts were with the friends and family of 15-year-old Rene Graham, who was killed in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove on Sunday.

Responding to a question about the killing from Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell, Sir Keir added: "I do urge the public to support the Metropolitan Police with any information which could help in their investigation, which is ongoing. Making streets safer is one of the five central missions of this government.

"And this is a shocking reminder of just how important that mission is. We have an ambition to drive down this sort of violence in our communities.

“We do not want interventions like this as we've had over the last few years and it is shocking to hear of this particular incident."

Sir Keir Starmer (PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

Families were enjoying a day out when the killer blasted a shot into the sky before firing at Rene at about 7.20pm.

At the time of the attack, it is believed more than a thousand people were attending the annual Park Lime event, organised by the Caribbean Music Association, which was billed as a "family fun day" featuring live music, games and face painting.

Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said: "I understand that the public, especially those who live and work in the area, will be shocked and concerned by this incident.

"All of us at the Met share that concern and we are using all of the resources at our disposal to identify those involved."

Four men, two aged 21 and the others aged 20 and 25, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody.

It comes as a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death after picking up his younger sister from his old primary school in Hackney on Tuesday.

Paramedics battled to save the teenager after he staggered from near Benthal primary school for about 50 metres before collapsing in Stellman Close shortly after 4pm.

Detective Chief superintendent James Conway, head of policing in Hackney, on Wednesday said a 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder. “The family are heartbroken,” he added.