Party stabbing horror

A 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death after a teenage party was "overwhelmed" by scores of gatecrashers, it emerged today.

The birthday celebration surged out of control as up to 200 people packed into a two-bedroom house in Ilford. The victim, who has been named as Charlotte Polius, was said to have been stabbed in the neck by another girl just after midnight.

Scotland Yard said Charlotte had been living with her mother and stepfather in Carroll Close, in nearby Stratford. She was an invited guest at the party.

Shocked neighbours today told how the attacker fled, and was chased by up to 100 revellers. She was only saved from a revenge attack when a police car arrived by chance.

The fleeing 17-year-old was put into the vehicle for her own safety as police tried to calm the mob.

She was later arrested and detectives are today continuing to question her. Meanwhile, forensics officers are searching the house and surrounding area for the murder weapon.

Police sources said the motive for the stabbing remains a mystery.

The girls were at the 16th birthday party of Jasmyn Ofosu in Saxon Road on Saturday night. Her father Danny, who works for Ford at Dagenham, had erected a marquee in his back garden and invited close friends and family but scores of youths gatecrashed the event.

Neighbour Alain Massa, 40, an economist, said: "There were about 200 to 300 people. It was like a market. You cannot believe all those people were in the house."

The attack happened just after midnight when Charlotte was in one of the bedrooms. She died an hour later in hospital. Another neighbour, service engineer Sherman Anglin, 45, said: "One of the partygoers knocked on my door to use the toilet because the police would not let them back into the house.

"I asked him what had been going on and he said his niece had been stabbed. He was very upset.

"I got the feeling from him she was going to be all right, so I can hardly believe she died."

Up to 100 guests are believed to have chased the suspect over walls and through gardens. One woman said: "There were about 15 kids surrounding one girl. They were pulling her and trying to take her. A police car came and the girl ran towards it, one boy was really mad. He came running down to the police officer. He was saying, 'You bitch, you bitch, you stabbed her."

Pramila Khodiyara, 57, who has lived in the street for eight years, said: "I looked out my window and saw police, ambulance and a large group of people standing in the street. They were then taken to one side and interviewed."

A friend of the dead girl was in tears when he arrived with his mother to deliver a floral tribute.

Joy Corey, 38, of Goodmayes, Essex, said she used to watch son Gavin, 15, play football.

"This is terrible, it's a hard loss for everyone to take, we are devastated," she added.

Charlie Prickett, 70, whose home backs onto the house where the murder took place, said: "I heard loud music playing last night then it stopped suddenly when the police sirens went off. I can't believe this happened, it's terrible."

Jasmyn Ofosu, who does not live with her father but visits him regularly, was said to be "devastated".

Last night forensic officers were searching the house for clues and removed several bagged items from the house.

Police are today trying to trace everyone at the party. Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald said: "There are a number of people who were at the party, who have not yet come forward. Please can they make themselves known to police."

Anyone with information should call 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.