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Friends of stabbed teenagers join campaign against knives
02.10.09
Two teenagers whose friends were stabbed to death described today how they have to wear knife vests just to go to the shops for fear of being attacked.
Huseyin Boran, 17, a student and Mario, 15, who live on the Beaumont Estate in Leyton, have joined the Home Office's anti-knife campaign “It Doesn't Have to Happen” which launches today.
Last summer, their friend Charles Junior “CJ” Hendricks died aged 18 after being knifed in Walthamstow and in February another friend Michael Wright, 17, from Leyton, was stabbed to death. Waltham Forest had 544 knife-related incidents from April 2008 to March this year. Huseyin said: “Young people should keep away from gangs. People carry knives for protection but this could end up harming them.”
Ebony Vincent, 28, a social volunteer, said: “Young people wearing stab vests have become commonplace.” Aron Jervis, 21, from the estate, who said he had been stabbed, added: “Nobody can get through to young people better than other young people.”
Reader views (2)
Let's please try and remember that the vast majority of young people - white and black - are well behaved, hard working and law-abiding. Why can't we focus on the success stories instead of only seeing the damage inflicted by a tiny minority of criminals.
- Nolan, Londonist
The kids around Walthamstow would stab you as soon as look at you.Society's changed and there's no turning back.We're doomed.Not that I care anymore anyway.
- Steve, London
