Uxbridge stabbing: Police name teenager killed while attending knife awareness course

17-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder of Hakim Sillah at Hillingdon Civic Centre

Police forensics officers at the civic centre building in Uxbridge, west London, following the stabbing of a teenager in the chest (PA)

A teenager who was fatally stabbed while attending a knife awareness course in west London has been named by police.

Hakim Sillah, 18, died in hospital after the attack at Hillingdon Civic Centre in High Street, Uxbridge, on Thursday afternoon.

Police said a group of youths had been attending a by-appointment event at the council-run youth offending service in the building when a fight broke out.

Officers were called shortly before 4.40pm and arrived at the scene to find Mr Sillah with a critical stab injury.

He was taken by ambulance to a west London hospital where he later died at 5.25pm.

A 17-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder was being questioned by police on Friday afternoon.

A third male, in his teens, was hailed by detectives for “bravely” trying to break up the fight that led up to Mr Sillah’s death.

He has since been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for a non-life threatening stab wound.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who represented the constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip before the election was called, tweeted on Friday: “Very sad news from Uxbridge last night. My thoughts are with the victim’s friends & family.”

Forensic officers in blue suits could be seen working in an area inside the civic centre which had been cordoned off by police tape.

The building is the headquarters for the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Asked if people had been screened for weapons before entering the civic centre, Hillingdon Council said in a statement: “The matter is being investigated by the police and we are unable to comment further at this time.

”Our thoughts are with the victim’s family.”

The Metropolitan Police has granted itself enhanced stop and search powers under section 60, which allows officers to search anyone within a certain area without “reasonable grounds”.

“This is a tragic loss of life. A young man with his whole life ahead of him has been fatally attacked,” said DCI Noel McHugh, who will be leading the murder investigation.

DCI McHugh, who added that Mr Sillah’s family had been left “absolutely broken” by their loss, said: “We are doing everything we can to find those involved. One male is currently in custody after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

“We need to hear from those in and around the area. Do the right thing and call police with what you heard and saw.

“Equally if you captured footage of the incident on your mobile phone at any point of the incident, please contact my team who are ready to take your call.”

Additional reporting by PA