This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7432675.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Girl killed in tower block named | Girl killed in tower block named |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A 15-year-old girl stabbed to death in a block of flats in south London has been named by detectives. | A 15-year-old girl stabbed to death in a block of flats in south London has been named by detectives. |
Arsema Dawit's body was found in a lift at Matheson Lang House, Bayliss Road, Waterloo, on Monday at 1545 BST. | Arsema Dawit's body was found in a lift at Matheson Lang House, Bayliss Road, Waterloo, on Monday at 1545 BST. |
The teenager, who turned 15 on Friday, is believed to have just returned home to the block of flats where she lived when she was attacked. | |
A man in his 30s was arrested nearby and is being questioned by detectives over the killing. | A man in his 30s was arrested nearby and is being questioned by detectives over the killing. |
Paramedics arrived at the scene within four minutes but were unable to revive the teenager, a London Ambulance Service spokesman said. | Paramedics arrived at the scene within four minutes but were unable to revive the teenager, a London Ambulance Service spokesman said. |
She is believed to be the 16th teenager to have died violently in London since the start of the year. | She is believed to be the 16th teenager to have died violently in London since the start of the year. |
Police are keeping an open mind about the motive for the killing, but they do not believe it was gang-related. | |
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out. | A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out. |
Man 'harassed' teenager | |
A mother and her eight-year-old daughter found Arsema, who had suffered multiple stab wounds. | |
The father of the child, Wayne Fort, who lives in the block and a friend of Arsema, Simon Tesfaghiorgish, both said they believe the teenager was being stalked by an older man and the family was worried about it. | |
Advertisement | |
Arsema Dawit's family at the flats where she was murdered | |
Mr Tesfaghiorgish said: "I didn't know him but he had been harassing her. The mother told the police a number of times. | |
"The police said they couldn't take any action. We are going to complain about this. | |
"He (the stalker) beat her and threatened to kill her," he said. | |
Mr Fort said: "There was a chap who seemed to be infatuated with her. I could see from the efforts of the elders of the family they were trying to get rid of the man." | |
Cathy Loxton, the principal of Arsema's school Harris Academy in Bermondsey, said Arsema was "popular and friendly". | |
"[She] had much to contribute to our school community," she said. | |
A spokeswoman said the news of Arsema's death was "very hard" for her schoolmates and many children were sent home as they became extremely upset. | |
Father Yohannes Sibhatu, the leader of the Eritrean community church, St Michael's Community Church in Camberwell, said: "I am really very shocked. As a person I knew her. It is very sad." | |
Arsena was a member of its mixed choir. He said special prayers will be said during Sunday's service. |