Boy fatally stabbed on London bus named as Kelyan Bokassa | London

A 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death on a London bus has been named by his mother as Kelyan Bokassa.

Kelyan was travelling on a 472 bus to Abbey Wood when he was attacked at about 2.30pm on Tuesday as the bus was on Woolwich Church Road. Paramedics treated him at the scene but he died shortly after they arrived.

His mother, Mary Bokassa, told the BBC her son was “caring, very caring”. It quoted her as saying: “He loved to have his friends around and when they were round he would want to cook for them. He was good in music. Anything he loves … he was doing to his best ability. He was good at football … and he was extremely good at drawing.”

Bokassa said her son had been “groomed” by gangs and had previously been taken into care. She said she had asked for help and tried to keep him from associating with gangs.

Kelyan was a former pupil at St Columba’s Catholic boys school in Bexleyheath, south-east London. In a statement issued before he had been identified, the school said: “We are saddened by the loss of life in Woolwich yesterday of a young boy who was briefly a pupil of St Columba’s in 2022. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time. Our schools will provide support to any of the students who may be affected by this senseless violence.”

A vigil was due to be held on Wednesday evening at St Mary Magdalene church, which overlooks the bus stop where Kelyan died.

Kelyan was an aspiring rapper who performed under the name Grippa and had recorded a number of tracks posted online.

Last November he recorded Gotta Eat, which featured tributes to Daejaun Campbell, a 15-year-old who died after being stabbed on Eglinton Road in Woolwich. On Tuesday, Mark Rodney, from the anti-knife crime charity Project Lifeline, told reporters that just two weeks ago Kelyan had laid flowers for Daejaun.

Ch Supt Louise Sargent, who is responsible for policing in Lewisham, said: “Our thoughts, at the time, are with the victim’s family and friends. It’s a horrendous crime and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now.” She added: “No arrests have been made at this early stage, but we are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.”

Just over an hour after the attack was first reported, video posted to social media appeared to show paramedics carrying a body bag from the bus.

In the bitter cold on Wednesday morning, the scene was almost deserted. A single bouquet of flowers lay beside the bus stop where Kelyan died after being carried out of the 472 bus with stab wounds. The new-build development that looms over the road was still cordoned off by police.

Vince Seesarun, 31, an estate agent manager, witnessed the aftermath of the incident. “There were loads of sirens around the bus. I’m not sure what’s going on at this point. After 30 minutes to an hour, more ambulances and police were coming.”

He described footage he saw of people “frantically running” away from the scene. “One had a massive machete about the size of my forearm,” he said.

He said they ran through the development and down towards the River Thames. “They go down there, frantically running and then something happens, there’s an object gone and they’re calmly walking after. That was the craziest part.

“They couldn’t even be 18. It’s young kids,” he said. “This happens all over London. Woolwich is still a safe place. This could happen in Chelsea. It’s just a shame that is happening.”