Two teenagers arrested over 'birthday party stabbing' in east London

Police say they wish to speak to a third teenager in relation to their inquiries, who has reportedly not been seen since the evening of the attack

Kutyauripo was fatally stabbed in the chest. His family has appealed for anyone with information to contact the police (Police handout)

Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder, following a fatal stabbing at a birthday party.

16-year-old Munashe Charles Kutyauripo, known as Charlie, was stabbed in the chest on 9 January on playing fields in Woodford, east London.

It is understood that he was attending a friend’s sixteenth birthday party when a confrontation took place outside a social club on the playing fields.

Charlie was tended to by emergency services but died at Whipps Cross Hospital.

Two boys, both aged 17, have been arrested in connection with the incident. They were arrested at separate addresses in east London today.

Detectives are still looking for a third teenager, Aaron Alexander Tavares-Gaiete, aged 16, who they say is still a suspect. He has reportedly not been seen since the evening of the attack.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lawson, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Aaron has not been seen since the murder and I am appealing directly to his friends, if you are helping him by giving him somewhere to stay, lending him money or letting him use your Oyster card please do not stay silent any longer, get in touch and help us find him.

“My direct message to Aaron is- while you have the opportunity please get in touch with us or come into a police station. We need to talk to you.”

Tavares-Gaiete is described as black, 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build with facial hair. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded jacket with a yellow motif on the left sleeve, dark coloured trousers and trainers. He was also carrying a bag with a white Nike logo.

Charlie’s family have appealed for anyone with any information relating to the incident to come forward. They said in a statement: “We hope that if anybody knows anything, they should come forward and help find whoever did this because to the world he was just a 16-year-old boy, but to us, that was our son taken.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 080055111.

With additional reporting by Press Association