Vigil held for teenage boy fatally stabbed on bus

A vigil has been held for a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed on a bus in south-east London last week.

Kelyan Bokassa died shortly after being attacked on a 472 double-decker bus on Woolwich Church Street on 7 January.

The community vigil took place on Tuesday evening in the New Wine Church in Woolwich, not far from where Keylan was killed.

Obehi Orukpe, who works with young people at the church, told BBC News: "We want an end to knife crime, we want an end to violence among youths."

"Everyone is shocked. It's in such close proximity to what we do in terms of outreach," she said. "[Keylan] is like one of our own."

Many young people were among the mourners at the venue.

Kola Taiwo, a pastor at the church is urging young people to come and talk to them about any concerns through counselling.

His colleague Chris Johnson, who runs the youth church within New Wine, said "enough is enough" and that things need to change to get knife crime to stop.

On Tuesday, Metropolitan Police detectives made an appeal to locate two teenagers in connection with Kelyan's killing.

The vigil featured music as well as addresses from members of the community.

One of those speaking was a friend of Kelyan's family who said: "Let's allow Kelyan's legacy to be a reminder that life is precious and far too short.

"Let's come together in unity and support one another and recognise that our actions have the power to shape our communities for the better."

Another said: "In times like this many of us are searching for answers. Why? How?

"Those are the questions we will continue to ask but right now we need to lean on each other's strength and be there for Kelyan's family."

They also reflected on other boys who had died as a result of knife crime, including 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell, who was killed less than a mile-and-a-half away (1.5km) from where Kelyan was stabbed.

"This isn't something that can become the norm in our community," Ms Orukpe said.

"It doesn't matter if it's one boy, 14, another boy, 18. These are young lives.

"These are precious lives that still have purpose and fulfilment."

She added: "When it happens in our community it happens to all of us and we've all got to be doing something."

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