Three teenagers arrested after 14-year-old boy Fares Maatou stabbed to death in east London

A teenager who was fatally stabbed in east London has been named as Fares Maatou.

A 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of murder while another 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident.

The force said Maatou was found seriously injured on April 23 but despite treatment from paramedics at the scene in Newham, he was pronounced dead shortly after 4.30pm.

‘Every fragment of investigation crucial’

Detective chief inspector Perry Benton, of the Met’s Specialist Crime unit, said: “Fares’s family are, of course, absolutely devastated.

"I have assured them of my total commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for this senseless killing.

“They will be supported by specialist officers at every stage of what will be a terrible ordeal for them in the weeks, months and years ahead.

“We have already seen fantastic support and received a good deal of information from local people.

"I thank them for that, and ask anyone with information or any witnesses who have yet to speak with police to please come forward and tell officers what they know.

“We are piecing together the picture of what happened on Friday afternoon, and every fragment of that picture will be crucial.

“Three boys have been arrested and they remain in police custody. This is a fast-moving investigation and there will be further developments.”

‘We miss you a lot’

Mourners left flowers at the scene of the fatal stabbing on Friday.

A pile of floral tributes and some balloons were placed outside the Zzetta Soul Fired Pizza restaurant on Barking Road in Newham.

Messages on cards paid tribute to a “brother” and someone who “touched so many”, with one saying: “We miss you a lot we want you back”.

A small group of young people gathered by the tributes hugging and comforting each other.

‘Really nice person’

A close friend of the 14-year-old has remembered him as a “really nice” person who “loved life”, the Press Association has reported.

The tearful 15-year-old, accompanied by her mother, who both did not want to be named, came to join others paying tribute to Fares Maatou at the scene of the attack in Barking Road.

She said: “He would just be there for you. If you ever needed him he would be there.”

She added: “He was happy. He loved life.”

Her mother, 33, from Stratford, said her daughter had been left “heartbroken”.

“She hasn’t stopped crying since she found out.”

She said her daughter and the 14-year-old had been friends since nursery and described the boy as a “lovely kid” and a “normal teenager”.

“I’m heartbroken seeing her upset. I can’t imagine what his parents are going through,” the mother added.