End the wall of silence, Camberwell knife victim’s family plead as gang videos fuel violence on London's streets

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The family of a rapper knifed to death in a suspected gang feud today criticised the community’s “wall of silence” over his murder as police patrols were stepped up amid fears of escalating violence.

Latwaan Griffiths, an 18-year-old drill music rapper with the group Harlem Spartans, died last week after tumbling from the saddle of a friend’s moped who was ferrying him to hospital.

Detectives believe he had been targeted by a rival gang in revenge for footage of him goading them being circulated online.

On Wednesday evening, Latwaan’s friend Sidique Kamara, 23, was stabbed to death yards from his home on the Brandon estate in Camberwell.

Rapper Sidique Kamara, aka Incognito, was stabbed to death in Camberwell

Mr Kamara, a member of the Moscow 17 drill group backed by former BBC DJ Tim Westwood, was ambushed by attackers on Boris bikes and he was stabbed in the chest.

Two months earlier, 17-year-old Rhyhiem Barton, also a member of Moscow 17, was shot dead in the same street.

The latest deaths have sparked fears of a gang war being fuelled by online music videos with glamorise killings and the gang lifestyle.

Triple stabbing: A forensic tent was in place at the scene
Nigel Howard

It emerged today that Mr Kamara, who performed under the name Incognito, had told of his regret and not going to help his friend Latwaan, writing on Snapchat: “When bro called me I should of went. Its my fault.”

Latwaan’s family today begged for an end to the violence which has seen 88 murders in London so far this year, with 33 victims aged under 25.

They urged members of the community who may be shielding his killers to speak up and give them “justice”.

Even the friend who attempted to drive him to hospital - telling passersby “help him, he’s been stabbed” before speeding off - has yet to come forward.

Latwaan Griffiths died after tumbling from this moped
Metropolitan Police

They said: “The wall of silence continues to be reinforced in our communities.

“Latwaan Griffiths, our loved one, was stabbed to his death in the early evening in circumstances that are yet to be known.

“We know that you know something that can help us put the pieces together. We want the speculation to end, we want the violence to end, we want justice, but we also need peace.”

The latest spate of killings are understood to be linked online, with Latwaan’s Kennington-based group and Moscow17 having collaborated on videos - many featuring violent references to gun and knife crime - which have racked up millions of views but angered rival groups.

Latwaan’s family added: “We as a family are broken, we are riddled with heartache, we will never be the same. We want to put Latwaan to rest, but we cannot do that unless you help us with this murder inquiry.

“We know that nothing we do collectively as a family or community can bring Latwaan back to life, but what we do know is that his murderer is still out there, and there is nothing stopping YOU from being the next victim of a knife or gun crime.”

Mr Kamara’s murder on Wednesday came just a day after Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said she believed the rate of violent crime in London was beginning to “stabilise”.

Detective Superintendent Helen Lyons, of Southwark Borough, said: “I am both shocked and extremely saddened by this incident.

“It is sickening to think that this young man has lost his life as a result of such a vicious attack, and I fully appreciate the concerns it will stoke in the immediate vicinity and the surrounding community.

“Residents can expect to see a significantly increased police presence in the area. We will be doing everything possible to assist our colleagues in the Homicide and Major Crime Command to achieve a positive end to this investigation and to try to prevent any further escalation of this violence.”

Local MP Harriet Harman said “anxiety” about violence in the community has now turned to “anger”, with constituents believing the area has become “a safe haven for people to carry out their criminal acts”.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “Every violent death on our streets is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the family and friends of these two victims.”

One elderly woman living alone on the estate told the Standard she was afraid to leave her flat.

She said: “Everyone was shouting ‘Granny, get inside’ when the poor boy was stabbed. I came in from the garden and locked the door. I don’t want to come out on my own. We are scared.”

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