Second youth arrested after teenager stabbed to death outside south London bar

Oliver Kingonzila, 19, became the 26th youngster to die in attacks in London this year.

The youth was knifed to death outside E Bar in the South End area of Croydon, south London, in the early hours of today.

He was taken to a south London hospital where he later died.

A view of the scene in the South End area of Croydon where a teenager was stabbed in the early hours of this morning

The Metropolitan Police had earlier announced another youth in his late teens had been arrested in connection with the attack.

He was being treated for injuries to his hands, a spokeswoman said.

She said the police were keeping an 'open mind' about the motives for the attack.

Police believe the victim was involved in a fight at 1.15am outside the bar and officers at the scene have also confirmed that a second person was stabbed in the fight.

Another youth fled the scene after he was also stabbed leaving a trail of blood into central Croydon

Locals believe the stabbing was gang related.

The boy's family has been informed, according to the Met Police.

Today a solitary bunch of flowers had been placed at the foot of the police cordon.

One witness posting comments on a local newspaper website said: 'I was walking from central Croydon towards South Croydon and we saw a man running and clutching his hands and they were full of blood.

'We noticed the trail of blood and got to the E Bar where everybody was outside and police and ambulances had turned up.'

A spokesman for Croydon police said: 'We are investigating the death of a male in Croydon in the early hours of this morning.

Forensic officers at the scenelook for clues to the attack which happened outside a town centre bar

'We were called at approximately 1.15am to reports of an assault outside the E Bar in South End, Croydon.

'On arrival, officers discovered the male now known to be aged in his late teens - suffering stab wounds.'

Ambulance crews and one rapid response vehicle attended the scene.

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: 'We were called to the scene in South End at 1.10am.

'An ambulance crew and one rapid response vehicle attended and found that the patient had stopped breathing.

'Extensive efforts were made both at the scene and on the way to the hospital to resuscitate the man.'

A post-mortem examination was currently taking place on the victim.

One woman, who would not be named, said Oliver was a 'good boy'.

She said: 'I knew him when he was younger. He used to be friends with my son. He was a good boy.'

The road closure had caused chaos in the area as shops were closed as scenes of crime officers carried out their investigations.

Some retailers were angry about the closure.

One shopkeeper, who refused to be named, said: 'All these businesses are closed because one idiot doesn't know how to enjoy himself.'

An incident room has opened at Lewisham police station under DCI Damian Allain.

He said: 'We now know that there was a fracas outside the E-Bar involving three people - one of whom was the deceased.

'We need to hear from anyone who saw that incident.

'It may be that one of them could also have been injured and may need hospital treatment.

The road remains cordoned off and a  police helicopter attended the scene at 11am this morning.

The death comes less than a month after 17-year-old Nilanthan Murddi was stabbed to death in the street in West Croydon.