- More than 100 young people pelted police with missiles in Stratford, London
- In video terrified shoppers and members of the public can be heard screaming
- It comes as London’s streets beset with yet more violence in the last 24 hours
- 18-year-old and 19-year-old were shot and stabbed to death in separate attacks
- A man in his 30s died after being stabbed just before 2pm on Saturday in Poplar
A mob of 100 youths pelted police with bottles as they investigated a robbery during a weekend of violence in London that left three dead.
Four officers were hurt when the gang leapt on police responding to a robbery alert at a bus station by Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London on Saturday.
Amid chaotic scenes, passengers fled screaming in terror and one woman was injured when she fell down stairs.
Officers came under attack from the ‘hostile’ crowd armed with weapons including a large hunting knife.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon following the rampage, which broke out at 8pm as a crowd of revellers were leaving a nearby event.
The incident came on a weekend of violence in the capital, with three people killed among a total of six stabbings and one shooting in just 24 hours.
Scotland Yard said more officers had been deployed in the capital following the incidents.
Those killed included Cheyon Evans, 18, who was stabbed on an estate in Tooting, south-west London at 4.42pm on Friday. Witnesses said the construction student at Lambeth College was knifed up to 17 times by a gang of teenagers.
Two suspects – aged 17 and 18 – were later charged with the teenager’s murder.
Mr Evans’s sister Charice wrote on social media: ‘You knew how much I loved you, my best friend, my right hand, my everything.
‘Words can’t even explain how heartbroken I am. The fact that I’ll never see you, hug you or hear your voice again kills me.’
Just 12 minutes after his killing, Eniola Aluko was shot dead in a car park in Plumstead, south-east London, during an unrelated attack.
The 19-year-old is said to have been blasted several times in the neck and chest.
Officers later arrested four men aged 16 to 18 and a 17-year-old girl on suspicion of murder.
Then, at 2pm on Saturday, a man in his thirties was stabbed to death in a field next to a children’s nursery in Tower Hamlets, east London.
A 33-year-old man and a 28-year-old man have now been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection to the incident.
There were also several injuries in the capital following attacks over the weekend.
At 3.30pm on Saturday, officers were called to Edmonton Green in north London after a man in his forties was knifed in the chest.
He was taken to hospital, where his condition was said to be critical but stable last night.
Three men were also stabbed in a separate attacks in Clapham and Brixton, south-west London, on Saturday morning.
Police arrested a total of 11 people following the violence.
Matthew Twist, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘Our thoughts are with all the victims’ families and friends who are facing the most devastating tragedy imaginable.
‘We made a significant number of arrests in relation to the various incidents and officers are undertaking further activities, following up additional investigative leads to ensure that we achieve justice for the families of those affected by violence in the last few days.’
It comes on another weekend on violence in the capital, with three people killed in just 24 hours.
An 18-year-old student and a 19-year-old man were shot and stabbed to death within 12 minutes of each other in separate attacks in London.
Scotland Yard increased patrols after 11 people were arrested, following three fatal incidents.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matthew Twist, said: ‘Firstly, our thoughts are with all the victims’ families and friends who are facing the most devastating tragedy imaginable this weekend and indeed to their wider communities.
‘We made a significant number of arrests in relation to the three incidents and officers are undertaking further activities, following up additional investigative leads to ensure that we achieve justice for the families of those affected by violence in the last few days.
‘We have increased the coverage of the Violent Crime Task Force in targeted areas across London this weekend and officers from across the boroughs, supported by colleagues from specialist units, will continue to undertake high-visibility patrols which will remain in place today and into the start of the week.
‘We have been using a number of operational tactics in targeted locations, to prevent further violence and to provide reassurance to the communities in those areas.
‘The circumstances, causes and motives for any homicide or serious violence incident are different and unique, and require different investigative strategies and approaches.
‘But we are taking a service-wide response and all officers right across London continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who bring violence to our communities.
‘The public also play a huge role in helping to both prevent and detect crime.
I urge anyone who has information about an incident, or about someone they suspect to be carrying a weapon to get in touch. Information doesn’t just help detect crime but vitally can help prevent crime from taking place. Information from communities can help save lives.
‘We understand people are nervous about anonymity but I want to reassure the public that any information provided to police is treated in the strictest confidence.
However, if you don’t want to speak to the police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. It’s 100% anonymous. They never ask your name or trace your call or I.P address.’
