Children as young as seven were inside a youth club in south London when a 23-year-old man was stabbed to death in a "premeditated and targeted" attack, a neighbour has said.

Maxine Dawson said she had heard that two men ran into the Marcus Lipton youth centre on Thursday evening with "a big knife - a big swordish knife".

The 46-year-old added: "There were children of seven years old coming out of there. I can only imagine the way they were traumatised."

The victim, named locally as 23-year-old Glendon Spence, was reportedly stabbed in the groin.

He has not yet been formally identified.


He was not involved with gangs, the mother of one of his friends said.

"He is a good boy - not the sort of boy who goes out and gives trouble," said Sandra Smith.

Pastor and community campaigner Lorraine Jones said "there was a fight and a young man got stabbed".

DCI Mick Norman said that "many young people present would have witnessed what unfolded", and may be "fearful of potential reprisals if they speak to police".

Officers were called to Minet Road in Brixton at 18.45pm on Thursday.

Police provided the victim with first aid and the London air ambulance was called.

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 19.27pm.

His next of kin have been informed.

A post-mortem will be held in due course.

Detectives investigating the death are looking at CCTV and forensic examinations are being carried out.

Mr Norman said: "All the early indications are that this attack was premeditated and targeted.



"My team need to hear from those who were at the youth centre either before, during or after that attack.

"The youth centre was open at the time and sadly many young people present would have witnessed what unfolded



"Many of them will be shocked and traumatised by what they saw and perhaps fearful of potential reprisals if they speak to police."

He added that information could be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or through the Fearless website.

:: Anyone with information should call 101, quoting reference 6414/21 Feb.