Man held after Lankan teen dies of stab injuries in UK

UK: A man in his 20s has been arrested following the death of a 17-year-old stabbed in Croydon on Saturday morning. Police were called to Sumner Road at 1.30am after reports of a fight between six to eight men.

A 17-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil was found by ambulance crews with a serious stab wound to the neck and died in Mayday Hospital at 4.30am.

Next of kin have been informed but police are waiting until formal identification has happened before releasing his name to the public. A post mortem examination took place at St Helier’s Hospital. Homicide and serious crime command is investigating the incident. The death is not thought to be gang related.

The death of the older boy, brings the toll of teenagers to have died violently in the capital this year to 23.

In Manchester, Connor James Black died from a single stab wound. Detective Superintendent Shaun Donnellan said Connor - who was known to the police - was stabbed in the back and had no defence. He said two knives were found and were being tested for DNA and fingerprints.

Connor is thought to have attended a “rowdy party” in Harpurhey, Manchester, near to where his body was found on grass 10ft from the main road.

The joinery student was rushed from the scene on Moston Lane but died on the way to hospital.

Donnellan appealed for information about a hooded figure seen running from the scene. He added that CCTV footage was being sifted to shed light on the murder.

In Croydon, police arrested a man in his 20s in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old, of Tamil origin.

In the early hours, officers were called to reports of a group of six to eight men fighting on Sumner Road at the junction with London Road.

Police and London Ambulance Service found the youth with a serious wound to the neck. He was taken to the nearby Mayday hospital, where he later died.

Police are seeking a mini cab driver they believe could be a vital witness to the murder.

The man, who may have been driving a blue Ford Mondeo, dropped a white male near the murder scene at around 1am.

The pair rowed before the cab driver drove off down London Road. His passenger was then involved in an altercation with a group of youths, including the victim, before walking off.

He returned to the scene around 20 minutes later and again got into an altercation with the teenagers. A fight broke out and the victim, who has not been named, was fatally stabbed - Sky News and Croydon Guardian.