Israel Ogunsola was found fatally wounded by officers in Hackney at 8pm yesterday

An 18-year-old student who became the 55th victim of London's 2018 murder spree was stabbed five times on New Year's Eve in a previous attack, friends say.

Israel Ogunsola was found fatally wounded by officers in Hackney at 8pm yesterday, and died at the scene half an hour later despite receiving first aid.

Two boys both aged 17 were arrested on suspicion of murdering the computer programming student, who was helped by an off-duty paramedic until the London Ambulance Service arrived.

One of his friends tweeted: 'Another black brother gone because of this road life. When will people realise that the road and gang life only leads to either death or prison? RIP Israel.'

It later emerged a Facebook profile under Israel's name showed he was friends with Tanesha Melbourne, 17, who was shot dead on Monday evening in Tottenham, North London.

Mr Ogunsola is also believed to have been friends with Coventry City FC goalkeeper Corey Addai, who tweeted: 'RIP Israel. Fully feeling this one.'

It emerged today that Mr Ogunsola was one of a group of teens who were attacked by rival gang members at a New Year's Eve party. Steve Frank Navarez-Jara was the first person to be killed in 2018.

The 20-year-old was stabbed on New Year's Day in Old Street, North London, alongside Mr Ogunsola - who was knifed as a 'warning', a family friend claimed.

The family friend, who refused to be named, said: 'Israel was lovely, I couldn't believe it when I heard he had been killed. He was stabbed five times at St Bart's Court over New Year as well. I would not have let him out the house if it were my son.

Two boys both aged 17 were arrested on suspicion of murdering student Mr Ogunsola (above)

A man (left), who said he was the victim's brother, sits with a friend as they view floral tributes left near the murder scene today in Hackney, East London

A Facebook profile under Israel's name showed he was friends with Tanesha Melbourne (above), 17, who was shot dead on Monday evening in Tottenham, North London

'I cannot believe that this has happened to him, that stabbing was a warning and now he is dead. He nearly died. They had to save his life.'

The victim's father today demanded that the 'bloodshed must stop', saying that his son was just cycling to meet friends when he was stabbed.

Dele Ogunsola, 55, told the Evening Standard: 'My son was a well brought up boy who respected everyone and was liked by all and sundry. The bloodshed must stop.

'London's streets are so dangerous. Young people are being slaughtered every day. If it means bringing back more stop and search, then so be it.'

He added: 'We are struggling to come to terms with what has happened. He has an older brother and sister, he was the baby of the house. We are all heartbroken.'

He said the family are from Nigeria and came to London in 1985, adding that his son was an Arsenal fan who once trialled for the club.

Flowers at the scene in Hackney following the stabbing of the teenager who later died

A man believed to be the brother of the victim laid a bunch of roses at the scene of his death. A note on the flowers said: 'To little Shegz from big Shegz. Love you bro. See you soon'

A police officer stands outside a tent as investigations continue into the Hackney killing today

One friend, who went to Hackney's City Academy with Israel, said: 'I used to sit on the lunch table with him, he was greedy.He was very intelligent and humble.

'He was very good at PE and English. All of his friends had gone to uni, they went to Leicester, Birmingham, to get out the ends, to get out the hood.

'This is like the purge, it's like a postcode war. There are so many gangs; Balance, Homerton, The 9, Fields, ZT, Kingsmead, Jack Dunning. He was popular.'

Pastor Tayo Ogunmefun baptised Mr Ogunsola when he was born and expressed devastation at the murder. He said: 'He regularly attended church, every Sunday.

'Israel wanted to be a computer programmer, he was a bright young boy with his whole life ahead of him. I was devastated when I heard about his death.

'It is so very sad. His family, because they are Christian they try and cope using their faith. I had heard he was involved the Bartholomew Court stabbings, but I was out of the country and do not know the details.'

Investigators look at a bicycle on the pavement following the murder in Hackney this morning

Investigators carry bags of evidence away from the scene this morning in East London

A bicycle lies on the road and pavement in Hackney last night following the stabbing

Police continue to look into how the man aged 18 was murdered in Hackney last night

Referring to knife crime and the surge in youth murders he added: 'It is very bad and very, very sad, I have been in this community for 25 years and in recent times it has become so bad.'

Just four hours before Israel was found by police, a man aged 53 died outside a Betfred bookmakers in nearby Clapton following a suspected fight at about 4.30pm.





It could be time to bring back stop and search, says victim's father The father of murder victim Israel Ogunsola today called for the return of stop and search powers after his son was killed. Dele Ogunsola, 55, a customer services administrator, said: 'The bloodshed must stop. London's streets are so dangerous. Young people are being slaughtered every day. 'If it means bringing back more stop and search, then so be it. We have to tackle this problem and the Government needs to do more.’ Theresa May oversaw cuts to police funding and numbers as Home Secretary which are coming back to haunt her as Prime Minister. Advertisement

It brings the total number of suspected murders in London so far this year past 50, with fatal stabbings in England and Wales at the highest level since 2010/11.

The escalating violence across the UK has been especially acute in London, with 13 people killed within two weeks last month - and six already in April.

A terrified mother-of-three today claimed 'nowhere in London is safe' after telling how she came across two murders in East London in the space of three hours.

Regina Thomas, 31, said up to 40 people gathered around the unconscious victim, aged 53, outside the betting shop after emergency services rushed to the scene.

The dental nurse at Upper Clapton Dental Surgery in Hackney saw him lying on the pavement as she was leaving work around 5pm yesterday.

Miss Thomas, who has children aged five, six, and seven, was shocked when she came across another murder scene walking near her home just three hours later.

She said: 'Nowhere in London is safe for my children except my home. I left work, I got in, got changed and went to dinner - and every step of the way someone's killed.'

There have been six murders in London in April, taking the total in the capital in 2018 to 52

An investigator shines a torch on an item on the road as they investigate the Hackney killing

A white police tent covers the body of yet another victim of knife crime in London, in Hackney

An investigator can be seen through a white police tent in Hackney early this morning

She was working when she heard a commotion outside an hour earlier, adding: 'It's very shocking, quite frightening and awful to think I was just across the road.

Diane Abbott urges knife crime crackdown after latest stabbing Diane Abbot, Labour MP, visits the scene in Hackney today Labour's Diane Abbott has called for an anti-knife crime strategy in London similar to that of Glasgow. Speaking at the scene of the latest murder in Hackney this morning, local MP and shadow home secretary Ms Abbott said: 'It's really tragic, it's really horrible and mothers all over the capital must be thinking 'I can say goodbye to my son this morning but will he come back tonight?' 'Whether their son will turn out to be a victim or a perpetrator, it's traumatising for families.' She blamed the wave of bloodshed on London's streets on cuts to policing and youth and social services. 'Here in Hackney we've lost one in ten of our police officers since 2010, but there also needs to be more work done in youth work, in schools, even in mental health,' she said. She cited the example of Glasgow, which has dramatically cut its murder rate by taking a coordinated public health approach to knife crime through education, youth work and social services. 'They have brought the number of deaths from knife crime down to zero last year,' she said. She said the Borough of Hackney was down to one police station as a result of cuts. 'It makes it harder for people to report crime but it gives a sense in the community that we are not guarded.' She added that London Mayor Sadiq Khan had no choice but to close police stations because of Government cuts to policing. When asked about Met Commissioner Cressida Dick's recent comments about social media fuelling knife crime as young people use it to goad their rivals, she replied: 'I think social media is a symptom not a cause.' Advertisement

'He could have come to this shop and attacked me. Earlier I heard a noise and the commotion but it happens a lot in Hackney so I try not to be a bystander.

'It was shouting, 'oi oi', someone was trying to stop someone else, I don't know if it was stopping from fleeing or stopping the argument but there was at least 15 people out there.

'I left work and this was the first thing I saw - someone's been murdered. After 5pm when I left there was between 30 and 40 people there so someone must have seen where the attacker went.

'I knew someone was hurt because I saw him on the floor - I saw just legs. Paramedics brought him inside the betting shop and tended to him in there.'

She found out the man had died and the second police scene she came across was a murder later that evening.

She said: 'I went with my parent to have dinner, turned off to Morning Lane five minutes away from where I live and it was another something has happened.

'Now I know it's another murder and it's frightening, I have children and I'm worried. It seems like the murderers are getting younger and younger so I cannot be sure that my children are safe.

'Their neighbour's child could be 11-years-old but that 11-year-old could be a potential threat to my children. I'm very angry because it's not fair, why does a mother have to hear that her son is killed?'

On the surge in violence in London, she said: 'It's disgusting, the world we live in - I wish people had more value for life and didn't take it so flippantly.

'I've probably come across at least ten blue and white tapes in my life and I wish I wasn't so desensitised to it - that's the most worrying thing.

'I'm not shocked, I'm not up in arms about it, for me it's just another day in Hackney. It's not good enough - something needs to be done - we need to bring back stop and search.

'Some people say it's good, some say it's not, but at the end of the day the numbers of violent crimes have risen very quickly so it might have been something bad something bad in the past but it may have saved lives.'

Yesterday's homicides come after a 17-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy were killed following a postcode war which has gripped London.

Tanesha was outside the home of her boyfriend's mother when she was shot on Monday evening in Tottenham, North London.

Police were driving in Hackney last night when they saw a man aged 18 had been stabbed

Police found the young man had been stabbed on the street in East London yesterday

A police road block close to the scene in Hackney after the man aged 18 was fatally stabbed

The teenager was one of dozens of people to be murdered in London this year, after getting caught up in a terrifying postcode war ravaging the streets of the capital.

How stop-and-search powers have changed As Home Secretary Mrs May introduced changes in 2014 which meant police are only allowed to stop people when there is 'reasonable grounds for suspicion'. And it warned that where officers misuse the powers they would face disciplinary action. She introduced the measures amid widespread anger to the power, particularly among the black and ethnic minority population, who said it was used disproportionately against them. In the years following the reforms stop and search fell to their lowest level since the power was introduced 17 years ago. But violent crime has risen - sparking calls for the power to be taken up again. Under current stop-and-search laws, police are allowed to search a suspect if the have 'reasonable grounds' that the person is carrying a weapon, drugs or stolen property. Such justification might be that they have witnessed the suspect putting the knife into a pocket. However emergency section 60 powers can be enforced in a set location, such as a town or city, which removes the 'reasonable grounds' criteria. Advertisement

Also on Monday night, 16-year-old Amaan Shakoor, became the 49th victim of the continuing bloodshed after he was shot in the face in Walthamstow.

By this morning, the Metropolitan Police had launched 55 murder investigations in 2018 - 11 in January, 16 in February, 22 in March and six in April.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has blamed social media for the rise in killings, particularly among children.

She has said trivial disputes could escalate into violence 'within minutes' when rivals set out to goad each other on the internet.

Philip Glanville, the Mayor of Hackney, tweeted last night: 'Two awful incidents in Hackney tonight, two lives cut short by violence.

'Thoughts with family and friends. Witnessed response of dedicated emergency services to fatal stabbing in Morning Lane.'

Mr Glanville said social media appeared to be playing a part in intensifying the problem.

He said the street violence problem was 'complex' and required a 'multilayered response', but added: 'Can't ignore impact of reduced police resources & role of social media.'

Video producer Jonathan Fisher said he saw a group of girls crying by the police cordon last night.

'I cycled down Morning Lane three hours ago to get to the pub. Can't go back the same way because a lad got stabbed to death in the time since. Group of lasses beside themselves in tears at the police tape.'

Other residents spoke about hearing the helicopter land at the scene as paramedics fought to save the young man.

A woman named Danielle tweeted: 'Listening to the sirens and helicopter. So sad for the life lost!'

Another added on social media: 'I've been listening to the police and chopper thinking not another one.'

Police were driving in Hackney last night when they saw a young man had been stabbed

Andrew Sissons tweeted: 'A really sinister atmosphere and wretched feeling in the air I am stood in my garden watching the helicopter less than 100 meters from Morning Lane, Hackney - senseless and tragic.'

Speaking about the Hackney death, a police spokesman said: 'Shortly before 8pm on Wednesday, officers on patrol on Link Street in Hackney were approached by a man suffering from stab injuries.

'Officers immediately provided the man with first aid. The London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended.

'The man, who is believed to be aged in his early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.24pm.'

Police were called to the Betfred store in Clapton after receiving reports of a male unconscious

A man was involved in an 'altercation' with another who left the scene in Clapton yesterday

And a London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called today at 7:57pm to reports of an incident on Morning Lane.

'We sent two ambulance crews and an incident response officer to the scene. Despite extensive efforts by the medics, the patient died at the scene'

Speaking about the Clapton death, a police spokesman said: 'Police were called at 4.27pm to a bookmakers after reports of a male unconscious.

'Officers attended with LAS and London's Air Ambulance. Despite the efforts of medical staff the male, believed to be aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Amaan Shakoor (left), 16, is one of the dozens of murder victims, in Walthamstow. Tanesha Melbourne (right) was shot in Tottenham, North London, and died on Monday night

Floral tributes were left in Tottenham, North London, on Tuesday after Tanesha was killed

'Officers are working to inform next of kin. The victim is believed to have been involved in an altercation with another male who has since left the scene.

'A crime scene is in place. There have been no arrests. The Homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed. Enquiries continue.'

And an ambulance spokesman added of the Clapton incident: 'We were called at 4.23pm today to Upper Clapton Road, E5, to reports of an assault.

'We sent two ambulance crews, an incident response officer and dispatched London's Air Ambulance to the scene.

'Sadly, despite extensive efforts to resuscitate the patient, he died at the scene.'

Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick announces new 120-strong task force that will use 'Al Capone' tactics to go after gangs behind London's murder surge

BY ROD ARDEHALI FOR MAILONLINE

The head of Scotland Yard Cressida Dickhas pledged to use 'Al Capone' tactics to curb the rise in knife and gun related murders

The head of Scotland Yard has pledged to use 'Al Capone' tactics to tackle the rise in knife and gun related murders.

Cressida Dick today said a new task force of 120 officers would target the most violent gang member to remove them from London streets 'for any crime'.

The police chief made reference to the notorious 1920's Chicago-gangster - who was finally foiled on tax evasion, after evading numerous murder charges - as an example of how potential violent criminals would be brought down.

The Met Commissioner spoke out after two more murders in London, bringing the total in the capital this year to 55.

It came after an 18-year-old man was killed in Hackney, after stumbling towards police officers with knife wounds. While in neighboring Clapton, a man in his 50s died after being punched in a row at a betting shop.

Ms Dick said the Violent Crime Task Force would target the most violent individuals in crime 'hotspots'.

Explaining the strategy for reducing the current crime wave sweeping London that has seen dozens of teenager stabbed to death in the capital, Ms Dick said there would be a visible increase in officers on the street 'being even more pro-active', as well as police flooding hotspots to disrupt potential gang violence before it begins.

Tactics: Tackling London's gun and knife crime epidemic Visible increase in officers on the streets

Police flooding hotspots to disrupt gang violence before it can begin

Intelligence-led stop-and-searches

The use of specialist covert tactics

Targeting known violent criminals and feeding intelligence to local officers to deal with in a 'fast-time way' Advertisement

Plus, officers would use intelligence-led stop-and-search and the use of specialist covert tactics.

Finally they would be targeting known violent criminals and feeding intelligence to local officers which they can use in a 'fast-time way'.

Speaking to the Evening Standard , she said: 'We will put even more effort into bearing down on violent crime.

'You will see us being even more pro-active out on the streets. We will have a greater presence in the hotspots of violence and a focused effort, including intelligence-led stop-and-search and the use of specialists in covert tactics.

'We will be looking to target the people we know are the most dangerous and get the intelligence to our local officers which they can use in a fast-time way.'

Ms Dick's words came after an 18-year-old man identified as Israel Ogunsola was found fatally wounded by officers in Hackney at about 8pm Tuesday, and died at the scene half an hour later despite receiving first aid.

Two boys both aged 17 were arrested on suspicion of murdering the computer programming student, who was helped by an off-duty paramedic until the London Ambulance Service arrived.