The 16-year-old boy stabbed to demise on Primrose Hill simply earlier than midnight on New 12 months’s Eve has been named by police.
Schoolboy Harry Pitman was killed as he stood and waited to observe the fireworks extravaganza.
He has been named and pictured by Scotland Yard within the drive’s operation portal interesting for witnesses and knowledge.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of homicide and brought into custody the place he at present stays, the Metropolitan Police has mentioned.
1000’s of revellers witnessed his horrific killing and law enforcement officials needed to wade by large crowds to get to the dying teenager on the high of Primrose Hill, Camden.
Did you see what occurred? e-mail matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk
Schoolboy Harry Pitman, 16, was stabbed to demise on Primrose Hill as he waited to observe the fireworks show
Law enforcement officials conduct a fingertip search on Primrose Hill
Metropolitan Police Officers have cordoned off the realm within the park the place the incident occurred
A forensic group group arrived on the park to look at the crime scene
Between 20,000 and 50,000 persons are estimated to have gathered to observe the New 12 months’s Eve fireworks in Primrose Hill
Officers administered First Support earlier than paramedics and a helicopter ambulance arrived however Harry was pronounced lifeless on the scene shortly earlier than midnight.
Primrose Hill – an unique London suburb the place homes are bought for multimillion pound sums – was cordoned off on Monday morning as dozens of police patrolled the realm and turned away households hoping to stroll their canines by the park.
Forensics groups arrived later within the day and a forensics tent might be seen on the crest of the park, whereas litter from Sunday night time’s festivities littered the hillside.
The spot is among the many hottest within the capital for these hoping to observe the London Eye fireworks.
An area resident advised MailOnline: ‘My son was there final night time. At round 11.40 -11.45pm, two police automobiles have been driving slowly by the crowds as much as the highest of the hill.
‘A younger lad had been stabbed and was mendacity on the ground. There have been too many individuals to clear away fully so the officers needed to tape off a small patch the place the boy had fallen.
‘These officers and paramedics then labored on him, attempting to avoid wasting his life, principally as fireworks have been being let off and other people have been whooping and hollering.
‘It was an odd, eerie scene and a damning indictment on the knife violence gripping London.
‘This wasn’t a small occasion, there will need to have been round 30,000 individuals on the hill at the moment final night time.
‘It is all the time been busy up there on New 12 months’s Eve however final night time was as packed as I would ever seen it.
‘This younger lad was murdered in clear view of individuals.’
One native girl mentioned there have been ‘a whole lot if not hundreds’ of individuals there on the time of the assault.
Forensics groups and officers on the scene of the deadly stabbing. 1000’s of revellers witnessed his horrific killing and law enforcement officials needed to wade by large crowds to get to the dying teenager
Litter might be seen strewn throughout the ground by revellers amid the crime scene this morning
A lone police officer stands guard on the fringe of the cordon on the morning after the teenager was stabbed to demise
Law enforcement officials carried out a search of the realm within the park the place the schoolboy had been stabbed
Law enforcement officials needed to wade by the massive crowds to get to the dying teenager on the high of the hill
A line of officers beside the taped off cordon who stand watch within the unique London suburb
She mentioned it was ‘completely tragic and surprising’ that a teen might be killed on her doorstep, including: ‘It isn’t only a younger individuals’s social gathering – there would have been households with younger youngsters there, too.
‘It might have been rammed. It isn’t simply locals – individuals come from miles round.’
A number of others mentioned they noticed police looking revellers earlier than they have been allowed to depart the park, forming queues which took a very long time to clear.
One other native, who wished to not be named, described the incident as ‘tragic however inevitable’, explaining he had made ‘a whole lot’ of complaints to police about anti-social behaviour within the park.
He mentioned it had grow to be a ‘social gathering hotspot’ with medication and alcohol because the pandemic.
Gina Germano, a mom of two teenage boys who have been at Primrose Hill on the time of the assault, mentioned she had ‘warned’ them about gangs there, explaining it had grow to be ‘tough’ since 2020.
Shocked witnesses took to social media web site X final night time to explain what they’d seen.
One revealed how {the teenager}, sporting a black jumper, fell to the ground lined in blood.
One man tweeted: ‘Persons are so desensitised now, they have been simply trying on the lifeless physique with their children. Who brings a knife out on New Years?’
One other witness, Benedict Yorston, added: ‘London fireworks viewing from Primrose Hill a tad extra thrilling than anticipated.
’40 police, holding a 20m round corden round a physique on which CPR was being carried out for > 10 minutes, 3 ambulances
‘Hopefully managed to resuscitate however did not look hopeful’
Detectives say the realm was ‘busy’ with New 12 months revellers on the time as Primrose Hill provides the most effective views of London Eye’s New 12 months’s Eve firework shows.
Harry’s devastated household are being supported by specialist officers.
The realm is effectively often called a fascinating place to dwell with its massive park and lengthy checklist of celeb residents.
Jude Regulation, Daniel Craig, Kate Moss and celeb chef Jamie Oliver all name Primrose Hill residence.
Forensics groups on the summit of Primrose Hill have been hours earlier tens of hundreds of individuals stood to observe the fireworks
A white tent might be seen in Primrose Hill as others proceed to assemble proof
Primrose Hill provides the perfect view of London Eye’s New 12 months’s Eve firework show and it’s understood giant crowds gathered there final night time
The scene in Primrose Hill in Camden the place an space of the park has been cordoned off by the Metropolitan Police
Harry was the twenty second teenager to be killed in London in 2023, 18 of whom have been fatally stabbed.
A Met Police spokesman mentioned: ‘Officers administered First Support earlier than London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance paramedics arrived.
‘Regardless of their efforts, the sufferer, believed to be a 16-year-old boy, was sadly pronounced lifeless shortly earlier than midnight.’
He added: ‘In depth police cordons stay in place as officers conduct forensic examinations of the scene and the encompassing space.
‘Officers imagine the realm was busy with individuals on the time. If you happen to noticed what occurred or have data, cell phone footage or different materials that may assist us, please name 101.’
Did you see what occurred? e-mail matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk