Girl stabbed to death after reportedly rejecting teenage boy's flowers

“The knife was like a sword. The boy tried to give the girl flowers, but she didn’t want to know. Then he stabbed her,” a witness to the horrific scene said.

A 15-year-old girl is dead and a 17-year-old boy is in police custody after a daylight stabbing in London’s southern suburbs.

The BBC reports the girl was stabbed in the neck with a “foot-long knife” after getting off a bus on her way to school on Wednesday morning, British time.

The 17-year-old boy in custody is believed to be known by the victim, and witnesses told police there had been an argument with a boy who tried to give either the victim or her friend flowers.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

A witness told the Evening Standard the stabbing happened in front of the bus full of people.

“They both got off the bus, she said something, then he pulled out a long knife with a jagged edge,” they said. “It was like a machete or something.

“She was stabbed in the throat. I had to look away.”

Another person told the Evening Standard there were kids still on the bus and “everyone was running in a panic”.

“The knife was like a sword. The boy tried to give the girl flowers, but she didn’t want to know. Then he stabbed her,” a third person told the Evening Standard.

“A police officer tried to stem the wound, but there was a lot of blood.”

RELATED: Mum reveals 'horror' injuries from teen daughter's stabbing

A white police tent set up at the scene where a 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death in London. Picture: BBC

Girl's death "every parent's worst nightmare"

A London police officer told the BBC officers were supporting the girl’s family through the “most tragic of news”.

“I am in contact with the local community, who are clearly as concerned as we are about this tragic incident,” he said.

“Within 75 minutes a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington, and remains in custody.”

He said the stabbing was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

“I know the officers who responded this morning, along with our emergency service colleagues, are devastated at the victim’s death,” he said.

A spokesperson from the school the victim attended in Croydon said they were “deeply shocked” by the incident.

“We are deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of our much-loved and valued friend and pupil,” they said.

“It will take some time for the Old Palace community to come to terms with this terrible news, and we will offer support to our pupils as we try to do so.

“Above all, we send our deepest love and sympathies to the girl’s family at this incredibly distressing time.”

RELATED: Man arrested after allegedly stabbing woman and setting fire to Geelong home

The bus the girl was riding before she was stabbed to death. Picture: LondonWorld

"Keep the family in your prayers and thoughts"

A local youth worker, Anthony King, told the BBC the victim had a “bright future ahead of her”.

He described her as an “absolutely incredible young lady” who was “jovial” and “very comedic”.

“This is the fourth or fifth time I’ve had to look a parent in the eye and tell them their child has died,” he said.

“It’s the worst day of my life and I can’t imagine what that feeling is like.

“The noises and screams I heard this morning will sit in my spirit indefinitely. Keep the family in your prayers and thoughts.”

RELATED: Loved ones pay tribute to ‘sweet and thoughtful’ 14yo stabbed in Melbourne

Residents of Croydon, including Georgina Slater, are incensed at another violent knife crime in their area. Picture: BBC

"We need intervention"

The senseless killing has angered residents of Croydon, who say knife crime is happening far too often.

“I don’t understand how at this time in the morning a little girl’s been stabbed,” resident Georgina Slater told the BBC.

“I don’t know what the police are doing … they’re just getting younger.

“We need intervention, we need stuff for the kids, they’ve got no guidance.

“The police turn up when it’s this - where’s the interventions in the schools?”

Another passer-by said it would “happen again next week, and next month, it’ll just be somebody else”.

The Local MP for the area, and British police minister, Chris Philp said the girl’s death was “devastating”.

Originally published as Girl stabbed to death after reportedly rejecting teenage boy's flowers