Islington stabbing: Three arrested on suspicion of murder after 17-year-old boy killed in London

Teenager killed in street in capital's fifth fatal knife attack of 2019

Nedim Bilgin was reportedly knifed just a few hundred metres from his home in Islington after going out on his bike

Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in north London.

Nedim Bilgin was reportedly knifed just a few hundred metres from his home in Islington after going out on his bike.

Police were called to reports of an assault in Caledonian Road just after 6.45pm on Tuesday. Paramedics fought to save the victim but he was pronounced dead in the street.

His father Nusret told the Evening Standard: “He was a wonderful boy. We are devastated. He went out on his bike and never came home."

"We don’t know whether they were stealing his bike or what. That’s what someone said. We were told a car pulled up and they stabbed him. We have no idea why. He was just minding his own business. He was a good boy.”

Two boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested close to the scene of the stabbing. A third, aged 18, was later detained at a house in Islington.

All three suspects were taken into custody at north London police stations.

Metropolitan Police said officers were “confident they know the identity of the deceased”.

The force said a formal identification would be arranged "in due course".

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Detective chief inspector Mark Wrigley said the stabbing took place “when lots of people would have been passing through the area on foot and in cars”.

He added officers had received reports of “people seen running around and on pedal bikes” shortly before the attack at the junction between Caledonian Road and Tilloch Street.

The boy’s death was the fifth deadly knife attack in the capital this year.

Officers have stepped up patrols in Islington in response to the killing.

Acting chief superintendent Nick Davies said: “Tragically the local community is now coming to terms with the senseless loss of life of a young man who had everything to live for.

Police at the scene of the fatal stabbing in Caledonian Road, Islington (PA/@briggs741)

“The investigation continues apace. My officers and those from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are carrying out a number of detailed forensic and CCTV footage related enquiries.

“I completely understand the alarm and concern it has raised from those who live and work in the area.

“A crime scene will remain in place today as officers continue their painstaking work to piece together the details of the attack. I would urge the local community to be patient and cooperate where possible with the work detectives are getting on with in the area.

Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, tweeted: “I’m horrified to learn about the fatal stabbing in the Caledonian Road area.”

He added: “All my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends.”

Police implemented a Section 60 order, which allows officers to stop and search anyone, across a wide area of north London until 3am on Wednesday. The order covered much of Islington, Clerkenwell, Finsbury Park and Bloomsbury.