Two teenagers stabbed to death in seven hours

Two teenagers were stabbed to death in London's bloodiest day of juvenile violence this year.

Amro Elbadawi, 14, was killed in West Kilburn on his way home from school and Devoe Roach, 17, was attacked in Stamford Hill, apparently after a dispute started on a bus.

The deaths, which bring to 11 the number of teenagers killed in violence this year, came on the day Mayor Ken Livingstone launched his manifesto for tackling crime.

Detectives believe Amro and his attacker were best friends who may have fallen out. A 16-year-old boy gave himself up at Paddington police station soon after the stabbing at 5.15pm yesterday. He was being questioned today.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Lee, leading the investigation, said Amro died of a stab wound to the neck and the knife thought to have been used in the attack had been recovered. He added: "They were friends. They had known each other for some time and the interplay between them has resulted in this tragic outcome. The facts are that we have a dead 14-year-old boy and we don't know what the catalyst was for the knife fight and we cannot say it was a playfight."

Amro's girlfriend, Ihsan, today laid flowers and a note at the scene of his death. Her note read: "To the best boyfriend in the world (AMRO), I miss you and love you very much you'll never be forgotten. you'll remain in my heart its still doesn't feel real, I ceep execting a call or txt from you. amro rember we had plans for 2day man - mabey on the otherside. love you gone but not forgotten."

Amro was attacked in Dart Street, yards from home on the Mozart estate in Queens Park. Bleeding badly, he staggered into a health centre where doctors tried to revive him. He died in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

Friends said Amro, who attended Paddington Academy, came from a close knit family of seven brothers and sisters. His parents are Egyptian and he was born there but the family came to Britain just before he began at secondary school.

On MySpace, Amro was named as part of the SD Crew, whose initials were said to stand for "Street Dreamz/Street Disciples/Secret Dealers". The gang claims to consist of 50 "soldiers" and "yungas" - younger members.

Friend Tarek, 18, posted a tribute saying: "RIP Amro, I love you to bits. I won't 4get u, I love u Amro. Rest in peace bro, I will neva forget you."

The dead boy's older brother said: "Amro wasn't bad, he wasn't involved in gangs. He had lots of friends at school. This is a terrible thing that has happened."

A steady stream of mourners, groups of Muslim women in hijabs, arrived at the family's groundfloor council flat to pay their condolences. Neighbours told how they heard shouting and screams. One said: "He was in a group that were always hanging around at the back of the building. There's a broken down wall there where they play games using pennies."

Another of Amro's friends, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard he got shanked. I don't know why. He was a good person. He was well known and respected in the area."

A post-mortem examination was taking place at Westminster mortuary.

Amro's death came just seven hours after Devoe was attacked in Tottenham High Road, Stamford Hill, as he went on an errand with a friend.

The Stoke Newington boy was stabbed in the chest outside the Turnpike House pub. The killer fled.

Family friend Charles Quagraine, 45, said: "These boys asked Devoe what he was looking at. He was stabbed because someone thought he was looking at them, it's as stupid as that."

Devoe, who lived with his mother Dionne, was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel but died about an hour later. Police have appealed for witnesses. The suspect was 18 to 20, of Asian or Turkish appearance, 5ft 7in-5ft 10in and wore a dark top and possibly a woolly hat.

Last year, 27 teenagers were killed in London.

TOLL OF VIOLENCE: TEENAGERS KILLED THIS YEAR

1 January: Henry Bolombi, 18, stabbed, Edmonton
5 January: Faridon Alizada, 18, stabbed, Erith
21 January: Boduka Mudianga, 18, stabbed, Edmonton
26 January:Fuad Buraleh, 19, beaten, West Ealing
19 February: Sunday Essiet, 15, stabbed, Woolwich
23 February: Tung Lee, 17, stabbed, Islington
29 February: Ofiyke Nmezu, 16, beaten, Enfield
13 March: Michael Alexander Jones, 18, stabbed, Edmonton Green
14 March: Nicholas Clarke, 19, shot, Brixton
27 March: Devoe Roach, 17, stabbed, Stamford Hill.
27 March: Amro Elbadawi, 14, stabbed. West Kilburn.