Murder investigation after four-year-old boy stabbed to death in London

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A murder investigation has been launched after a four-year-old boy was stabbed to death inside a home in London.

Police were called to an address in Montague Road, Hackney on Wednesday night. Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and inside the address they found a four-year-old boy suffering knife injuries.

He was taken to hospital for treatment but later died from his injuries. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

A investigation has been launched with a a 41-year-old woman, who was known to the boy, arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. She remains in custody.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “This is an extremely distressing incident which will understandably cause shock and disbelief amongst the local community and those who attended the scene.

“We are working with our partners, including Hackney Council and the school community, to ensure support is there for people who need it.

“Specialist officers from our homicide team are progressing this investigation and continue to work to establish the circumstances of this young child’s death, and the events that led up to it.

“This incident occurred within the home and, while is no wider public safety risk, additional officers will be present in the area as we recognise the impact this will have on the community.”

Knife crime has continued to surge in London with figures from The Office for National Statistics showing there were 12,786 knife offences in 2022/23, compared to 11,031 in the previous year.

Recent high profile cases include the stabbing to death of Elianne Andam, who was attacked while on her way to school in Croydon in September. She was the 15th teenager to die in the capital in 2023.

Former Eastenders star Brooke Kinsella, whose brother Ben was murdered in 2008, told the Independent at the time: “Knife crime is not an isolated problem with isolated solutions. It is a symptom of deeper societal issues; a failure of successive governments.

“Ben was murdered 15 years ago and in that time, I have seen no meaningful change. It breaks my heart whenever I hear of another life being lost, another family torn apart and another community shattered.”