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Boy, 14, shot dead in London - as three teenagers arrested on suspicion of murder
A 14-year-old boy shot dead in London has been named as Eghosa Ogbebor.

Three teenagers - two boys, aged 14 and 16, and an 18-year-old man - have been arrested on suspicion of murder in Woolwich, southeast London, and remain in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police had initially referred to the victim as a man because they could not identify him but have now confirmed he was 14-year-old Eghosa.

Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with Eghosa's family and loved ones, they are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time.

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"I know the concern this has caused within Woolwich and the wider community, particularly considering Eghosa's young age. We have an increased police presence around the area.

"While we have made three arrests, our investigation continues and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to officers."

Officers were called to the scene in Lord Warwick Street, which is close to the Woolwich Ferry and Woolwich Dockyard train station, at around 3.40pm on Thursday.

Eghosa was pronounced dead at the scene and police said his family are being supported by specialist officers.

Pub-goers 'panicking' after shooting

Sofia Pereira, 33, who works at the nearby Greyhound pub said customers who were on the patio ran inside "panicking" after the shooting, adding the atmosphere in the pub was "very overwhelming".

"It was a lovely day yesterday, a few people were outside," she said.

"And obviously everyone got scared because they heard shooting and they could see one of the guys had a machete, or something like that.

"So everyone just ran inside, said 'lock, lock all the doors and everything', because obviously we didn't know what was going on."

Ms Pereira said she was inside, adding: "But I just heard like a big 'bang', like a big, strong 'boom', which was obviously one of the kids, I think, jumping on the wall, through the bin, and then obviously the bin fell and broke, then he just run off."

The area surrounding the street where the shooting took place was cordoned off on Friday, with a dozen police officers at the scene.

A bunch of flowers was laid at the end of Lord Warwick Street, while forensic officers appeared to be searching a patch of grass along the street.

London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: "My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Woolwich following the appalling fatal shooting of 14-year-old boy.

"There is absolutely no place for this heart-breaking violence.

"I remain in close contact with the Met who have been working around the clock - arrests have already been made and an investigation is under way.

"Residents will see an increase in police in the local area."

It is the second fatal shooting in the capital in less than a week.

Nahom Medhanie, 26, was shot dead while sitting in a car near Euston station in central London at around 11pm on Saturday.


M&S boss issues stark warning over worsening crime
Marks and Spencer's retail boss has warned crime is getting "more brazen, more organised and more aggressive" after a week plagued by antisocial behaviour.

Retail director Thinus Keeve hit out at the government and London mayor Sadiq Khan in a letter posted to the supermarket's website.

"Without a government seriously cracking down on crime and a mayor that prioritises effective policing, we are powerless," he said.

Following unrest on Saturday, about 100 officers responded to antisocial behaviour in Clapham, south London, on Tuesday, four of whom were assaulted, along with one member of the public.

Scores of teenagers and young adults were participating in so-called "link-ups" – using social media apps including TikTok and Snapchat before surging into shops.

M&S was reportedly one of the stores targeted.

Mr Keeve went on: "It is becoming more brazen, more organised and more aggressive."

"We need a stronger, faster and more consistent police response, using tools that already exist to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots," he said, adding: "It's a clear ask: support our police. Help them show up in our communities when and where we need them.

"Give them the resources they need to tackle crime effectively, and ensure they work with retailers to consistently use the tools we've developed to share data and actively target offenders."

'None of us believe crime is falling'

He also questioned claims that crime rates are falling in the capital.

He said: "I keep hearing crime is falling, especially in London - something none of us believe, and very few people working in retail would see."

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M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has written to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood following the scenes over the weekend, which Sir Sadiq condemned as "utterly unacceptable".

The London mayor said "the culprits will face the full force of the law" and police were working with social media companies to try to clamp down on "viral online content which promotes violence and theft".

'Part of the broader picture'

Speaking to Sky News, M&S head of external affairs Adam Hawksbee said the Metropolitan Police's response to the chaos was "excellent".

But he said the incident in Clapham is "just part of the broader picture", with 1,600 retail workers a day experiencing violence and abuse.

"Some incidents will be serious and organised crime, and others will be individuals that are under the influence of alcohol and drugs. And this can be really scary, both for our colleagues working in the store and for the security guards," he said.

"We've had ammonia thrown in the face of one of our security guards. In the last week, we've had a store manager headbutted and these incidents are not isolated to us at M&S. They're true across the retail sector and that's why we feel like we needed to speak out."

Meanwhile, police in Rochdale issued a 48-hour dispersal order following anti-social behaviour.


Two men arrested on suspicion of drug-driving after girl, 9, killed in crash
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of drug-driving after a nine-year-old girl died in a crash in Birmingham.

Two cars were involved in a collision in the Hockley area of the city at around 11pm on Thursday, police said.

The girl was a passenger in one of the vehicles and was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but died a short while later.

Two men, aged 22 and 23, who were driving a BMW, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

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A woman and two other children from the same car as the nine-year-old girl were taken to hospital to be assessed by doctors, West Midlands Police said.

The force said in a statement following the girl's death: "Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this devastating time."

A worker in the local area who saw the aftermath of the crash said one vehicle came to rest on a pavement near the wall of a railway bridge, with another badly damaged car left in the middle of Icknield Street, a busy dual carriageway.

A nearby resident, who did not see the crash and did not wish to be named, said: "It's a terrible tragedy for the girl's family.

"There have been fatal accidents on this road in the past, but not in the past few years. It's just a shock. It's awful."


Boy, 14, arrested on suspicion of murdering Chloe Watson Dransfield, 16, in Leeds
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of Chloe Watson Dransfield, 16.

Chloe, from Gomersal, Leeds, died in hospital after being found in the street with stab wounds in the Austhorpe area of the city just before 6am on Saturday.

Police were called on 28 March to an address in Kennerleigh Avenue, following reports a young woman had been found unconscious.

On Thursday, West Yorkshire Police confirmed another teenager had been arrested over the death and that the 14-year-old is being held in custody.

Three other teenagers have already been charged over Chloe's death, including Kayla Smith, 18, Archie Rycroft, 19, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age.

All three appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday for a brief hearing accused of Chloe's murder.

Smith and Rycroft, both from Leeds, appeared via videolink from separate prisons. The 17-year-old appeared via videolink from a secure accommodation unit.

All three spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth during the 12-minute hearing.

No applications for bail were made and no pleas were made by the defendants.

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A provisional date for a trial, estimated to last more than two weeks, was set for 10 November, though the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl KC, said the date is subject to change and all three were remanded into custody.

The girl's father and other family members issued a tribute, saying they were "utterly devastated" and that she would "never be forgotten".

The said in a statement: "We miss every single thing about her. She was beautiful, full of joy, and had a wonderfully cheeky personality.

"She embraced life with such happiness, and she had her whole future ahead of her. Chloe was loved by everyone who knew her, and the absence she leaves behind is immeasurable."

Chloe's mother said in a separate tribute she "cannot put into words" the loss of her "beautiful princess".

She added: "You are my life, my world, my best friend and I know that I am yours. I cannot live without you - I need you."


Man charged with murder after woman, 84, stabbed to death in London
A man has been charged with murder after an elderly woman was fatally stabbed in southeast London.

Doris Innes, 84, was attacked outside her home in Red Lion Place, in Plumstead, on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Two other people were threatened with a knife, but were not injured.

Giorgio Pin, 62, of Brookhill Road, Woolwich, has since been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Officers, who responded to reports of a man with a knife at 8.50am, found Mrs Innes injured outside her home.

She was taken to hospital by paramedics, but later died of her wounds.


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