The night before the UK crowned its new monarch, three young people were killed in a wave of knife attacks that spread over East London.
Despite “significant events” taking place in the nation’s capital over the weekend, the Metropolitan Police said they are thoroughly examining the various instances.
The attacks happened on Friday over a shorter time frame than eight hours.
Jordan, an 18-year-old nephew of Michel A. Pongo, a municipal politician for Barking and Dagenham, has been identified as one of the fatalities.
Jordan is thought to have died after a machete fight broke out near Dagenham Heathway tube station shortly before midnight.
An arrest has reportedly been made in connection with the attack.
It is believed a second man was taken to hospital with a stab injury, but is not in a life-threatening condition.
Mr Pongo said: ‘It was with great sadness that this afternoon I learned that my nephew, Jordan, 18, had been stabbed to death in Dagenham last night.
‘His mother is inconsolable.’
The Barking and Dagenham councillor added: ‘If you are a gang member, this message is for you.
‘Drop your knife and quit the gangster life before it is too late.’
The rash of violent altercations began at around 4pm, when a 16-year-old pupil at Kelmscott School was stabbed to death in Walthamstow.
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A local said the victim’s attackers were waiting for him, and he died at the scene.
Kelmscott headteacher Sam Jones said the attack marked the ‘darkest of days’ for pupils and teachers at the school.
He said: ‘A Kelmscott student was tragically killed in a senseless knife attack.
‘Kelmscott is a large and tight-knit family and this loss will be felt for a long time to come.
He added: ‘Hold those that you love close this evening.
‘I know we will come together as a community and support one another through this.’
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, who is leading that investigation, said the brutal attack had taken place in full view of bystanders and young people.
He added: ‘My thoughts are with them as they come to terms with seeing such an act of violence unfold and I would ask anyone with footage or images to do the right thing and send them into my team of detectives.’
Meanwhile, three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the third fatal stabbing.
It took place around 11pm at a residential property on Mare Street in Hackney.
A 20-year-old man was declared dead at the scene.