Victims: Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo
(Picture: .)Police have made two more arrests over the fatal stabbings of two teenagers a mile apart in Greenwich.
Charlie Bartolo was found stabbed in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, while Kearne Solanke was found stabbed in Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the best efforts of medics, both boys sadly died of their wounds.
On Tuesday, detectives arrested two teenagers on suspicion of the murder of both boys.
The first, a boy aged 16, was arrested Tuesday morning, and the second, aged 15, was arrested Tuesday evening. Another 16-year-old boy, who was arrested Sunday on suspicion of both murders, has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said officers are continuing to work around the clock to uncover the circumstances surrounding the stabbings.
DCI Blackburn said police are still appealing for anyone who may have seen a black Nissan Qashqai with silver roof bars in the areas around Sewell Road or Titmuss Avenue in the days and hours before the stabbings to come forward.
“We have the vehicle in our possession, but are still interested in witnesses who may have seen it being driven locally,” she said.
“Information you provide could help us bring justice for these young boys and their families.”
She added: “We remain in close contact with the families of Kearne and Charlie and are keeping them updated with developments as the investigation progresses.
“We are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and at this time I am keeping an open mind about any motive.
“We’ve now set up a facility which allows members of the public to send information and related material direct to the investigation team so that we can carry out a quick time assessment.
“The arrests are a positive development but we continue to work to understand the events that unfolded on Saturday evening.
“I am grateful for the information we have received already – we can only solve these tragic crimes in part thanks to the vital information which comes in from the public.
“We are aware of information which has been posted online referring to the murders, but would appeal specifically to anyone in the area that night who believes they witnessed something of relevance to please come forward and speak to us.”
Post-mortems were continuing Tuesday, said police.
Local officers urged those in the community to help catch those responsible for the stabbings.
Detective Superintendent Richard McDonagh, said that his thoughts and deepest sympathies were with the family and friends of the victims, “and indeed with local people in Abbey Wood and Thamesmead who I know are shocked and appalled by what has happened.”
“As the Deputy Borough Commander of the Met’s South East Command Unit, I join them in being deeply saddened and outraged by these senseless murders,” he said.
“I can assure everyone affected by these murders that skilled detectives will work tirelessly to discover what happened and provide answers to the young victims’ families.
“Tackling violence is a priority for the Met. Incidents like those we saw on Saturday reinforce why that work is so important, and why I must again ask all of London’s communities to work with us, and our partners, so that we are doing all that we can together to prevent such tragedies.”
Anyone with information that could assist police can share it directly with the investigation team on this dedicated webpage.
