Two 16-year-old boys stabbed to death just a mile apart in south east London on Saturday afternoon were friends it has emerged, as police said they had arrested a suspect.
Kearne Solanke was found with stab wounds in the Thamesmead area, while Charlie Bartolo was discovered a short time later in Abbey Wood.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of their murders, police said on Sunday night.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: "This is a positive development in what is a complex and fast-moving investigation. Charlie and Kearne's families have been informed.
"Our investigation is ongoing and we continue to appeal for the public's help as we build a picture of what happened on Saturday night. If you have information, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please come forward."
Detectives have appealed for help to trace a dark-coloured SUV-type vehicle that was seen in the area at around the time of the killings.
Police said they were called at around 5.10pm on Saturday to reports that two people had been injured at separate locations.
When they arrived they found the teenagers with fatal stab wounds and both boys were pronounced dead at the scene.
On Sunday night, there was a steady stream of mourners at both locations, with locals confirming that the boys were friends.
One woman who left flowers at the spot where Kearne died said they were both “good kids” who were “loved by so many people”.
She said: “They had the same hobbies, they would go on their bikes and that was the main thing they really did.
“They were just beginning their lives and came from really big families. There are a lot of people who are heartbroken.
“Charlie was playing with his baby nephew just a few hours before it happened. It doesn’t make sense. They were both first-born sons and were loved by their mothers.”
A friend of Kearne said: “He was a really good boy, everybody knew him around here and everybody loved him.”
Detective Superintendent Richard McDonagh, speaking at the scene of one of the incidents, asked for the public’s help to catch those responsible.
He said: “Homicide colleagues are investigating and are treating the two murders as linked. I can assure everybody affected by these murders that skilled detectives will work tirelessly to discover what happened and provide answers to the young victims and families.
“Officers are especially keen to hear from anyone who might have seen a dark-coloured SUV or 4X4 type with distinctive silver roof bars in the areas around Sewell Road or Titmuss Avenue in the days prior to the murders.
“We have already heard from a number of witnesses and I’m grateful to them.”
Mr McDonagh also urged anyone who knew the boys and who might be able to shed any light on why they might have been targeted to also come forward.
On Sunday night, officers later cordoned off a black Nissan that was understood to be of interest to the investigation.
