Blades found at scene of attack in which Nedim Bilgin, 17, was killed on Tuesday evening

Police hunting the killers of a teenage boy who was stabbed to death on a London street are waiting for tests to confirm whether knives recovered from the scene were used in the attack.

Nedim Bilgin, 17, was pronounced dead within minutes of the attack on Tuesday night, which happened on Caledonian Road, London. The teenager was attacked 300 metres from his home. Police said his mother was alerted by locals, and saw her son lying on the ground as paramedics tried in vain to save his life.

Ch Supt Nick Davies said two youths were arrested while running from the scene after locals who witnessed a clash between youngsters called the police. It is believed that at least one large knife was used during the attack.

The 16- and 17-year-olds were being questioned by homicide detectives on Wednesday. Information received by detectives after their arrest led to a raid on a nearby address and the arrest of a third teenager, aged 18, on suspicion of murder.

Davies said it was too early to speculate on the motive, but said: “A gang fight is a line of inquiry. He was attacked by a group of males and they ran away. There has been some sort of fight and this has happened.”

Davies said Bilgin may have been chased and police had seized video of the aftermath of the attack posted on social media.

He said police believed witnesses may have been present who have yet to come forward, adding: “Other young men were at the scene and saw what happened. The public need to do something more to help us.”

The Evening Standard quoted the victim’s father, Nusret, as saying: “He was a wonderful boy, we are devastated.”

The teenager’s mother, Remziye, said: “We are devastated. This violence must stop.”

The teenager is the eighth homicide victim in London this year. There were 135 killings in the capital in 2018, an increase on the previous year.

Bilgin had gone missing just before Christmas for 10 days . That is believed to be the only time he had previously come to police attention.

Police do not believe the motive behind the attack was robbery. A bicycle was found close to the scene, but detectives are trying to establish who it belonged to and whether the victim had been riding one before the attack.

Police were called at 6.49pm, and by 7.15pm the teenager was formally pronounced dead at the scene. The clash happened on Caledonian Road, near the junction with Tilloch Street, close to a betting shop.

DCI Mark Wrigley, who is leading the investigation, said: “This fatal knife attack took place just before 7pm in an area when lots of people would have been passing through on foot and in cars.

“We have had reports of people seen running around and on pedal bikes near Caledonian Road junction with Tilloch Street, before and just after 7pm. Were you there? Did you see anything suspicious? Did you record footage before or after the attack or have your vehicle’s dashcam on? We need to hear from you to help build a clearer picture of what unfolded.”



