Hainault sword attack victim named as Daniel Anjorin, 14

The teenage boy who died in the Hainault sword attack has been named as Daniel Anjorin.

The 14-year-old died in hospital after Tuesday's attack, in which four other people, including two police officers, were injured.

A 36-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of murder, is in police custody.

Daniel's school, Bancroft's, described him as a "true scholar" who had a "positive nature and gentle character".

He went to the same independent day school where Grace O'Malley-Kumar, one of the Nottingham stabbing victims, attended.

In a statement, the Met Police said the suspect struck a 33-year-old when he crashed his van into a property on Laing Close around 07:00 BST on Tuesday. He then attacked the man, leaving him with a wound to the neck.

Another man, 35, suffered lacerations to his arm when he was attacked inside a nearby house.

Their conditions are not considered to be life-threatening, police said.

The suspect then went on to attack Daniel.

The Met said police arrived within 12 minutes of the first call where officers used incapacitant spray and a Taser on the suspect, which had "limited impact".

Two officers were then attacked as well, suffering serious injuries and needing long-term treatment to recover, the force added.

The suspect fled before eventually being surrounded by other officers in Thurlow Gardens where he was overpowered with a Taser.

He was arrested and taken to hospital due to injuries from the crash. He is now in police custody.

Emergency services at the scene
Emergency services were called to Hainault, in north-east London, shortly before 07:00 BST on Tuesday [Peter Kingdom]

In a letter to parents, the school's head teacher, Simon Marshall, wrote: "Naturally this event will have a profound effect on the whole school, but this will be especially true of his peers.

"It seems scarcely believable that less than a year on from the terrible death of Grace O'Malley Kumar in the Nottingham attacks we are facing fresh sorrow.

"All we can do for now is to look after one another and respect the privacy of Daniel's family - it is a time of profound grief and as a community we will endure best if we come together in kindness and compassion."

Jubilee Church, which Daniel was a member of, expressed their "immense sadness" at the "sudden and tragic death".

Separately, the school where his mother works, Holy Family Catholic School, has issued a statement naming her as Mrs Anjorin.

It said: "It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death of the child of one of our staff members.

"Please keep Mrs Anjorin, her husband and their other children in your prayers."

Bancroft's School
The independent day school is in Woodford Green [BBC]

Grace died in a knife attack in Nottingham where she was at university.

Her family have sent their condolences to Daniel's family with her mother, Dr Sinead O'Malley, saying: "I don't think there's anything anybody can say that can really do anything to alleviate their hurt and their pain."

A flag was seen flying at half-mast at Bancroft's School on Wednesday.

Flowers at the scene
Flowers have been left at the scene [BBC]

Daniel died from stab wounds shortly after being taken to hospital. His family are being supported by specially trained police staff.

Speaking to LBC, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "The first thing you have to say is for the parents involved, who've lost their 14-year-old, and that is just horrific, and it's everyone's worst nightmare.

"I'm sure we're all thinking about them."

Grace's father Dr Sanjoy Kumar described the attack in Hainault as "horrific".

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said the grief likely felt by his family was "only felt by a few like us who have lost children in these absolutely appalling circumstances".

Her mother said she hoped the family would heal in time.

The O'Malley-Kumar family are from Woodford Green, east London, which is about 15 minutes by car from Hainault.

On Wednesday, Sir Mark said two officers, male and female, suffered serious injuries to their arms in the attack.

The force added it was not looking for any other suspects and it did not believe the incident was terror-related or targeted.


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