This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

Friends and passersby rushed to help a teenage schoolboy who was stabbed to death outside a busy shopping centre in broad daylight, Scotland Yard said.

The Metropolitan police were called to Broadway in Stratford, east London, shortly after 3pm on Thursday following reports of a stabbing.

The 15-year-old was attacked on or after getting off a bus that had stopped close to the Stratford Shopping Centre, the force said.

Friends rushed to help him and members of the public performed first aid at the scene, it added. Police and paramedics found the schoolboy with “critical injuries” and despite battling to save his life he was pronounced dead at the scene near the shopping centre at 3.49pm.

The force said his next of kin have been informed but formal identification and a post-mortem examination were yet to take place.

DCI Chris Soole, who is leading the investigation, branded it a “senseless attack” and said a murder investigation had been launched. He added: “First and foremost are thoughts are with this young man’s family and friends. They so tragically are having to come to terms with this terrible loss of life.

“This was a senseless attack and we share the concern and alarm this murder will no doubt cause in the local community.”

DCI Soole said the attack took place in a busy area and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A second boy, aged 15, was also found with stab injuries was taken to an east London hospital, where his injuries are said to be not life-threatening.

A witness to the incident told the PA news agency that the attack happened outside a McDonald’s restaurant next to the entrance of the shopping centre.

“At that moment there were not many people around him so I could see him all covered in blood. He was in pain and tried getting up,” they said.

“There were people around gathering. It was scary as you did not know if any of them could have had a knife too.”

A section 60 order, giving officers the power to stop and search in the area, has been implemented.

Witnesses should call the police on 101 quoting reference CAD 4644/01OCT19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.