Boy, 14, stabbed to death on London bus named as Kelyan Bokassa

8 January 2025, 12:03 | Updated: 8 January 2025, 22:43

The 14-year-old who was stabbed to death on a bus in southeast London yesterday has been named as Kelyan Bokassa.

He was stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich Church Street, close to the Woolwich Ferry, just before 2.30pm on Tuesday.

The teenager died at the scene shortly after medical help arrived.

The Metropolitan Police called the stabbing a "horrific attack," while London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said the "heart-breaking violence has absolutely no place in our city".

No arrests have been made so far but officers are appealing for witnesses who were on the 472 bus.

An aspiring rapper, 14-year-old Kelyan was also "briefly" a student at St Columba's Catholic Boys School in Bexleyheath.

The South East London Catholic Academy Trust said in a statement it was "saddened by the loss of life" and added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

"Our schools will provide support to any of the students who may be affected by this senseless violence."

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Roy, founder of Outchea TV who was meant to film a music video with Kelyan later this month, told Sky News: "He was just like a cool kid.

"He seemed... wiser for his age, and I just got speaking to him about his music career, he said he's just started and wanted to carry on doing music.

"The worst thing is that he was telling me about his friend that passed away not long ago."

Mary Bokassa, the boy's mother, also told MailOnline that he and others "were taken advantage by gangs" and "were groomed".

She told the outlet: "He was missing for a year and was living on the street. He finally turned up at my doorstep, he was sick, underweight and tattooed.

"He was exposed to drugs. He probably experienced something because I could sense it. He was not himself. If I questioned him, he wouldn't tell me anything about his friends."

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Thorpe, who is leading the investigation, said: "Following Kelyan's tragic death yesterday, specialist officers are now leading the investigation which is progressing at pace.

"If anyone saw this horrific attack or was in the area then I urge them to come forward and speak to officers.

"We're particularly interested in any mobile phone footage that captured this incident or any dash cam or doorbell footage from around the surrounding area at the time of this incident."