Boy killed in 'tit for tat' crime

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Police secure the murder scene in Larkhall Park, Lambeth

A 16-year-old boy stabbed to death in a south London park was killed during "tit for tat" reprisals between rival gangs, police have said.

The teenager, along with a 17-year-old boy, were attacked in Larkhall Park, Stockwell, on Monday night.

The second boy is in a stable condition and has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Meanwhile two boys, aged 15 and 17, and two men, aged 21 and 25 are being held on suspicion of murder.

Whilst police and ambulance service were trying to attend to our victim and another victim, a number of youths did turn up and police officers came under attack Det Ch Insp Damian Allain

Police confirmed that all of the suspects suffered knife wounds.

The murder victim was dead when emergency crews arrived at the park at about 2030 BST.

Speaking at the scene Det Ch Insp Damian Allain said: "We are keeping an open mind to the circumstances.

"However, we think there may be rival factions and this was a tit for tat reprisal for an incident that may have occurred earlier on in the evening."

He added: "Whilst police and ambulance service were trying to attend to our victim and another victim, a number of youths did turn up and police officers came under attack."

Residents said two gangs clashed on the nearby Lansdowne Green Estate at the time of the stabbings.

Neighbours said up to 30 youths, many of them armed, were involved in the street fight and said it was sparked by an earlier knife attack.

'Empty minds'

One man, who did not want to be named, said: "There was a big fight - I heard it was some sort of retaliation after something else that happened earlier on."

Another man, who works as a youth football coach in the park, said the incident began when teenagers who live on the rival Hemans Estate strayed into the area.

He said: "It is the same old story. They think they are gangsters. They have empty minds. They watch these videos and think it is real."

Several witnesses said a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog was also stabbed.

Most of Larkhall Park was sealed off following the incident.

A stretch of Wandsworth Road, which runs along the western side of the park, has also been closed to traffic.

The murder victim is the seventh teenager to die in violent circumstances in London.