Police release 11-year-old boy earlier arrested for attempted murder

Teenager taken to hospital with 'number of stab wounds' following attack in Archway

Police on the scene of the attack in Islington on Sunday evening (PA)

An 11-year-old boy has been released by investigators after he was arrested for attempted murder of a teenager following a stabbing in north London.

The boy was detained by police following an attack in Fairbridge Road, in the Archway area of Islington, at around 6.50pm on Sunday evening.

Officers and paramedics at the scene found a 14-year-old boy suffering from several stab wounds.

He was taken to an east London hospital by air ambulance. Details on his condition are currently unknown.

The 11-year-old arrested in connection with the incident was been taken to a police station in north London, but was later de-arrested and released from custody.

Scotland Yard said it would "retain and open mind" as to what the motive behind the attack was.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said police were taking a "zero-tolerance attitude" to anyone caught carrying a blade.

"Knife crime ruins lives and devastates communities," Mr Khan said in a statement.

"My thoughts are with the family of the 14-year-old victim of a stabbing in Islington this evening.

"Incidents like this have a devastating impact on families and our communities and we need to send the message that they will not be tolerated.

"Politicians, the police and all Londoners must unite in saying it is never acceptable to carry a knife – and it does not make you safer."

The Met has launched more than 80 murder investigations so far in 2018 as problems with violent crime in the capital persist.

So far this year in London, 21 youths have been murdered, while knife crime has risen by 18 per cent in the year to April.

Senior police have also warned of an increase in “feral” knife attacks, where victims are stabbed multiple times, compared to the single wound seen in most attacks five years ago.

Last Sunday, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Romford, on the outskirts of east London, after a birthday party at a community centre.

Just days later on Wednesday, 20-year-old Ishak Tacine was fatally knifed in Edmonton, north London.

Last week, Met Police officers seized six firearms, 135 knives and several other weapons during operations across the capital.