Hackney stabbing: Police hunt second suspect over murder of teenager Israel Ogunsola

Victim: Israel Ogunsola died after being stabbed
Chloe Chaplain8 April 2018
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Detectives investigating the murder of a teenager who was stabbed to death in east London are hunting a second suspect over the attack.

A 17-year-old boy appeared in court charged with the murder of Israel Ogunsola, 18, and possession of an offensive weapon on Saturday.

But police are appealing for witnesses to trace a second suspect they believe was involved in the alleged attack.

The victim was found fatally wounded in Link Street, Hackney, by officers on patrol at around 8pm on Wednesday and was pronounced dead 25 minutes later.

The latest victim of London's knife crime Israel Ogunsola

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as stab wounds.

Scotland Yard's Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine said: "Whilst we have one male appearing in court charged with Israel's murder, another remains at large.

"We are particularly keen to trace a second suspect described as a young black male wearing black clothing who was at the scene of the murder.

"There are people in the area who know what happened that have yet to call police.

"Their information is vital to building a clearer picture of what took place, securing important evidence and apprehending everyone involved. We need you to call.

Murder scene: Link Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA )
Stefan Rousseau/PA

"A young man with his whole life ahead of him has been murdered and his grieving family deserve answers and justice."

The 17-year-old charged with murder will next appear at the Old Bailey on April 10, while a second 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed to a date in mid-April.

The police appeal came after a surge in violence across the capital – which saw the murder rate spike to 55 since the start of 2018.

Six people have died on the capital's streets in the past seven days

Murders: Six people have died in the last week 
Nigel Howard

Over the weekend, officers were called to several unrelated stabbings including a double knifing involving two teenagers in Croydon.

A man in his late teens and another aged 16 were injured in the incident at the Whitgift Shopping Centre on Friday evening.

On Saturday evening, an 18-year-old man was taken to hospital after being repeatedly stabbed in Barking, east London.

And later that night a 48-year-old woman was arrested in suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed outside Highbury and Islington Tube station.

Paramedics rushed a man, aged in his 30s, to an east London hospital after the incident at around 10.30pm. The man's injury is not life-threatening, Scotland Yard said.

On Sunday, police were called out to another stabbing in Ebley Court, Southwark.

Surge: There has been a wave of violent crime in London in the past few weeks 
Nigel Howard

An 18-year-old was found suffering from stab wounds but his injuries were deemed not life-threatening or life-changing.

Police, appealing for information, said he is believed to have been attacked by two males who then fled the scene.

“Following this incident police in Southwark obtained an authority under section 60 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994, lasting until 7am on Monday,” a police statement said.

“The aim of any police action is to prevent crime, disrupt criminal activity and keep communities safe.”

Police are urging anyone with information to call the incident room on 020 8345 3734 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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