Boy, 4, stabbed to death in east London home, as 41-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder
21 December 2023, 14:31 | Updated: 21 December 2023, 17:50
A four-year-old has been stabbed to death in east London, with a 41-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder.
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Officers said that the woman was known to the boy, the stabbing took place inside the home, and police are not looking for anyone else.
The boy was stabbed on Montague Road in Hackney on Wednesday evening.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene at 10.50pm and found the boy suffering from knife injuries.
He was rushed to the hospital but died of his wounds.
Officers said the boy's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
One neighbour told LBC they returned from work after midnight and saw a huge number of police cars on the road outside.
They said they heard officers talking about a knife having been found in the sink. Holding back tears, she said they had a Christmas card on their table that they were planning to give to them.
Another neighbour, living across the road, described the family in the flat as "lovely people" as she came outside.
One person who lives directly opposite the flat came out to lay a bunch of flowers on the wall at the cordon, as forensic detectives continue to work upstairs but didn’t want to speak to reporters.
Local Paul King, who says he grew up in the area and now lives on the street behind, said: “It’s shocking. It was only a few weeks ago that someone was shot on her doorstep just around the corner from here.
"It seems to be a bit of an epidemic of violence in the borough. This is the worst I’ve seen in quite a while. It just makes me want to move out of London all together.”
Next door to the flat that police were searching, a woman described the boy as being 'energetic, polite and lovely' saying that he always said hello to her son, of a similar age.
She described the boy's mother as being someone who takes proper care of her boy, adding that she saw her emerge from the flat in her pyjamas, covered in blood, shaking and breathing heavily.
The neighbour said a man was at the flat earlier in the evening and she saw him walking out, claiming the pair may have recently split.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway who leads policing for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “This is an extremely distressing incident which will understandably cause shock and disbelief amongst the local community and those who attended the scene.
"We are working with our partners, including Hackney Council and the school community, to ensure support is there for people who need it.
"Specialist officers from our homicide team are progressing this investigation and continue to work to establish the circumstances of this young child’s death, and the events that led up to it.
"This incident occurred within the home and, while is no wider public safety risk, additional officers will be present in the area as we recognise the impact this will have on the community.”
