Boy, 14, dies after being stabbed on bus in south-east London | London

A 14-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, south-east London, in the middle of the afternoon.

Paramedics treated the teenager at the scene but he died shortly after they arrived, police said. Schools in the area had returned on Monday after the Christmas break.

Ch Supt Louise Sargent, who is responsible for policing in Lewisham, said police were called to the scene – a route 472 bus on Woolwich Church Road near the junction with the A205 – just before 2.30pm.

The alert had been raised by a local officer on patrol, she said.

London ambulance and London air ambulance were also called to the incident but, despite treatment, the boy died.

“Our thoughts at this time are with the victim’s family and friends. This is a horrendous crime and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now. No arrests have been made at this early stage, but we are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.”

Sargent appealed for information from the public, adding that police cordons remained in place and the community would see “an enhanced police presence” in the area.

A video uploaded to X at 3.39pm from the scene appeared to show paramedics carrying a body bag from the bus. Footage showed forensic officers examining the bus.

Further videos and photographs from the scene showed the stationary bus on the eastbound side of Church Street opposite St Mary Magdalene church. The bus was surrounded by nine police vehicles and an ambulance. Police officers could be seen entering the bus, as one side of the road was closed to traffic. Later both sides of the road were cordoned off.

The man who filmed the video from his home in a flat overlooking the scene said: “I’m extremely saddened. The state of the UK is declining, the poor get poorer, the rich richer. There is a lack of respect for life, where people don’t care about killing another human being – whatever age they may be.”

The man, who asked not to be named, added: “There is no discipline in this country, yet the mayor gets a knighthood. Knives are more prevalent than ever, how can someone get on a public bus to go home from school, work or wherever, and be in fear of their life being taken away. It’s shocking.”

A woman working at the church said she saw an air ambulance and other emergency service vehicles arrive at the scene, but did not see any passengers from the bus.

Ten teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.

This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023. The youngest victim in 2024 was aged 14.

The incident came after an 18-year-old man was stabbed opposite nearby Shooters Hill Sixth Form College in Woolwich on Monday. The victim of the attack, at about 4.20pm, remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The college is about 1.5 miles from the bus stabbing. A Met spokesperson said: “At this early stage of the investigation, we don’t believe the two stabbing incidents are linked.”

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.

“This heart-breaking violence has absolutely no place in our city. I am in close contact with police leaders – an investigation is under way and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area.

“I urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. There is no honour in staying silent.”