Family 'shocked' over stab death

Nassirudeen Osawe was shopping with two friends on Upper Street, Islington, north London, on Thursday afternoon when they got into a row with a man at a bus stop.

The teenager and his 17-year-old friend were both stabbed. The older boy survived but Nassirudeen died at the scene, only days before his birthday on January 2 - the 27th teenager killed in the capital this year.

His family called for help from the public "to get the people who are responsible for the murder of our son and brother off the street".

The family said he was the youngest of five children, "a kind, loving and principled son and sensitive brother, with a great sense of humour".

They went on: "Nass was a very talented artist and was studying A Level Art at St Charles Catholic Sixth Form School. Nass was an exceptional student and the expectation was that he would go on to study art at university.

"Nass was a young man just beginning to make his way in the world and had never been in any kind of trouble. He was taken away from his family and friends by a needless and senseless act of violence.

Police were called to the bus stop outside The York pub at 2.30pm where they found two boys bleeding from stab wounds.

Nassirudeen, from Islington, was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. The second boy was taken to hospital where he remains. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Scotland Yard said a 17-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the murder. An 18-year-old man arrested on Thursday remains in custody.