Elephant and Castle stabbing: 7 arrested after death of teenager following 'large disturbance'

A murder investigation has been launched following the stabbing of a 16-year-old male in Canterbury Place in Elephant and Castle, south-east London. The victim, who has not been formally identified, is the tenth young person to be fatally stabbed in capital in 2015 and the third this month.

London Ambulance Service responded to reports of a stabbing at 10.21pm BST on Monday 14 September. The Metropolitan Police said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.52pm BST.

Officers are in the process of informing the victim's next of kin and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. Seven males have been arrested and remain in custody at different south London police stations.

The murder investigation will be led by detective chief inspector Graeme Gwyn of Homicide and Major Crime Command, who said: "There was a large disturbance in Canterbury Place, during which the victim was fatally injured."

Gwyn has appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The investigation has yet to determine the circumstances of the incident and whether the murder was gang-related.

Figures published in July revealed knife crime in London had risen for the first time in four years. A Freedom of Information request from 2013 revealed hat more than 1,000 people every month are victims of knife crime in London.

If you have information that could assist the murder investigation, contact the incident room at Lewisham on 020 8721 4805. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.