Girl 'stabbed to death moments after rejecting flowers from boy' on Croydon bus
A schoolgirl fatally stabbed on a bus rejected flowers from a boy moments before he attacked her with a "sword-like" knife, it has been claimed.
The 15-year-old victim, who was said to have been wearing a green jacket, died after being stabbed in the neck on a No 60 double decker bus in Croydon, south London. A witness said her attacker handed her flowers which she rejected before he stabbed her.
Chevanice Thomas, who works on the nearby Landsdown Building site, said her friend saw a group of schoolchildren and adults running from the scene immediately after the stabbing at around 8.30am this morning. Ms Thomas, 28, said: "My friend said there was people with their children running everywhere. The only person who stayed was the bus driver. A lot of people got out their vehicles and started running. My friend said they were off the bus, talking, the boy and the girl.
Police gathered near a bus inside a cordon (PA)"The boy gave her flowers, but she didn't want anything to do with him. Then he got violent and stabbed her. My friend said the knife was like a sword. My friend was on [the opposite side of the road]. She crossed over just before she got stabbed.
"She took a video... when she saw the police officer trying to compress the wound and the blood gushed out she couldn't watch anymore. It was a packed bus... kids and parents were running everywhere."
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Another woman at the scene told how her friend was aboard the bus and witnessed the girl arguing with a boy prior to the stabbing. The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “The boy was with a group and he gave her flowers. She didn’t want it. They were arguing, the whole bus could hear, and then it spilled off the bus apparently. It’s so sad but I can’t say I’m shocked. We have had stabbings in Croydon before. This is what happens now.”
The stabbing took place near a shopping centreA local mum-of-two described how a bus driver attempted to resuscitate the schoolgirl after she was stabbed “in the neck and chest”. Bridgett - who did not want to give a surname -told how she disembarked a different bus on Wellesley Road this morning and happened upon the “panicked” scene.
“When I came she was already on the floor. “There was two bus drivers holding her and then a lady - she was so panicked. Everybody who was there was panicked.” Bridgett, who lives in Croydon, added: “When they were resuscitating her I was gasping. She was in grey trousers and they were resuscitating her and I saw her (gasping). I was so scared I didn’t go close.”
When asked where the girl’s wounds were, she gestured to her back and chest. A double-decker Arriva bus stands outside the Whitgift Centre with two police cars parked in front. The Arriva No 60 bus has "Streatham Station" on its screen. A huge police cordon has been set up and the entire carriageway where the bus has been closed off.
Jason Perry, Mayor of Croydon, said: "I am devastated to hear that the teenage girl who was stabbed in the town centre this morning has tragically died. The Council are in touch with the police and will fully support their investigations. Our whole community's thoughts are with the victim's family and friends."
He added: "A suspect, who is believed to have known the victim, has been arrested, and I would like to thank all those who responded so quickly to the incident."
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