London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Dec 07, 2025

Teenagers Arrested in Connection with Fatal Stabbing of 14-Year-Old Boy on Woolwich Bus

Teenagers Arrested in Connection with Fatal Stabbing of 14-Year-Old Boy on Woolwich Bus

The arrests include two teenage boys and a woman, marking a significant step in the investigation of Kelyan Bokassa's murder.
The tragic murder of Kelyan Bokassa, a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, south-east London, has led to the arrest of two teenage suspects and a 44-year-old woman.

The Metropolitan Police reported that the arrests indicate a potential breakthrough in a case that has deeply affected the Woolwich community and echoes broader concerns about youth violence in the city.

Kelyan, whose background illustrates a life marked by instability and involvement with gangs, was killed on January 7th.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, leading the investigation, confirmed that a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested on suspicion of murder, while the woman was detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All remain in custody as the investigation continues.

DCI Lee has publically thanked officers for their relentless efforts and the community of Woolwich for their support and patience, emphasizing the determination to curtail violent crimes in London.

The appeal for more witnesses and information continues, with the police encouraging the public to share any relevant details.

Kelyan's mother, Mary Bokassa, has candidly shared the struggles her son faced, highlighting a troubled upbringing that included time in care and frequent school relocations.

She pointed to gang grooming as a major influence in his life, expressing her grief and frustration at the inability to avert his tragic fate.

Known by the name 'Grippa' in the drill music scene, Kelyan had a history of minor criminal offenses, including possession of a knife and cannabis.

In the community's response, a vigil was held at St Mary Magdalene Church in Woolwich, where Reverend Jesse van der Valk led mourners in a moment of reflection and silence.

More than 35 mourners, including Kelyan’s friends, gathered to pay their respects and support his family during this difficult time.

This incident is part of a troubling trend in London, with last year alone witnessing the deaths of ten teenagers, mostly due to stabbings.

The recent figures from the Metropolitan Police report a 5.6% increase in stabbing incidents in the Greenwich area, raising alarm over safety and youth violence.

Separately, a severe incident at Arsenal Underground station on January 15th saw a man suffer life-changing injuries after falling onto the tracks.

This event further underscored the operational pressures on emergency services and the challenges facing public safety in the capital.

While the incident is not considered suspicious, it led to service disruptions on the Piccadilly line until the scene was cleared.

Both events highlight ongoing challenges within London's transport and community safety networks, with authorities reaffirming commitments to enhancing public confidence and reducing crime rates across the city.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
"The Great Filtering": Australia Blocks Hundreds of Thousands of Minors From Social Networks
Mark Zuckerberg Pulls Back From Metaverse After $70 Billion Loss as Meta Shifts Priorities to AI
Nvidia CEO Says U.S. Data-Center Builds Take Years while China ‘Builds a Hospital in a Weekend’
Indian Airports in Turmoil as IndiGo Cancels Over a Thousand Flights, Stranding Thousands
Hollywood Industry on Edge as Netflix Secures Near-$60 Bln Loan for Warner Bros Takeover
Drugs and Assassinations: The Connection Between the Italian Mafia and Football Ultras
Hollywood megadeal: Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery for 83 billion dollars
The Disregard for a Europe ‘in Danger of Erasure,’ the Shift Toward Russia: Trump’s Strategic Policy Document
Two and a Half Weeks After the Major Outage: A Cloudflare Malfunction Brings Down Multiple Sites
UK data-regulator demands urgent clarity on racial bias in police facial-recognition systems
Labour Uses Biscuits to Explain UK Debt — MPs Lean Into Social Media to Reach New Audiences
German President Lays Wreath at Coventry as UK-Germany Reaffirm Unity Against Russia’s Threat
UK Inquiry Finds Putin ‘Morally Responsible’ for 2018 Novichok Death — London Imposes Broad Sanctions on GRU
India backs down on plan to mandate government “Sanchar Saathi” app on all smartphones
King Charles Welcomes German President Steinmeier to UK in First State Visit by Berlin in 27 Years
UK Plans Major Cutback to Jury Trials as Crown Court Backlog Nears 80,000
UK Government to Significantly Limit Jury Trials in England and Wales
U.S. and U.K. Seal Drug-Pricing Deal: Britain Agrees to Pay More, U.S. Lifts Tariffs
UK Postpones Decision Yet Again on China’s Proposed Mega-Embassy in London
Head of UK Budget Watchdog Resigns After Premature Leak of Reeves’ Budget Report
Car-sharing giant Zipcar to exit UK market by end of 2025
Reports of Widespread Drone Deployment Raise Privacy and Security Questions in the UK
UK Signals Security Concerns Over China While Pursuing Stronger Trade Links
Google warns of AI “irrationality” just as Gemini 3 launch rattles markets
Top Consultancies Freeze Starting Salaries as AI Threatens ‘Pyramid’ Model
Macron Says Washington Pressuring EU to Delay Enforcement of Digital-Regulation Probes Against Meta, TikTok and X
UK’s DragonFire Laser Downs High-Speed Drones as £316m Deal Speeds Naval Deployment
UK Chancellor Rejects Claims She Misled Public on Fiscal Outlook Ahead of Budget
Starmer Defends Autumn Budget as Finance Chief Faces Accusations of Misleading Public Finances
EU Firms Struggle with 3,000-Hour Paperwork Load — While Automakers Fear De Facto 2030 Petrol Car Ban
White House launches ‘Hall of Shame’ site to publicly condemn media outlets for alleged bias
UK Budget’s New EV Mileage Tax Undercuts Case for Plug-In Hybrids
UK Government Launches National Inquiry into ‘Grooming Gangs’ After US Warning and Rising Public Outcry
Taylor Swift Extends U.K. Chart Reign as ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ Hits Six Weeks at No. 1
250 Still Missing in the Massive Fire, 94 Killed. One Day After the Disaster: Survivor Rescued on the 16th Floor
Trump: National Guard Soldier Who Was Shot in Washington Has Died; Second Soldier Fighting for His Life
UK Chancellor Reeves Defends Tax Rises as Essential to Reduce Child Poverty and Stabilise Public Finances
No Evidence Found for Claim That UK Schools Are Shifting to Teaching American English
European Powers Urge Israel to Halt West Bank Settler Violence Amid Surge in Attacks
"I Would Have Given Her a Kidney": She Lent Bezos’s Ex-Wife $1,000 — and Received Millions in Return
European States Approve First-ever Military-Grade Surveillance Network via ESA
UK to Slash Key Pension Tax Perk, Targeting High Earners Under New Budget
UK Government Announces £150 Annual Cut to Household Energy Bills Through Levy Reforms
UK Court Hears Challenge to Ban on Palestine Action as Critics Decry Heavy-Handed Measures
Investors Rush Into UK Gilts and Sterling After Budget Eases Fiscal Concerns
UK to Raise Online Betting Taxes by £1.1 Billion Under New Budget — Firms Warn of Fallout
Lamine Yamal? The ‘Heir to Messi’ Lost to Barcelona — and the Kingdom Is in a Frenzy
Warner Music Group Drops Suit Against Suno, Launches Licensed AI-Music Deal
HP to Cut up to 6,000 Jobs Globally as It Ramps Up AI Integration
MediaWorld Sold iPad Air for €15 — Then Asked Customers to Return Them or Pay More
×