Teenager, 16, knifed to death in London street near iconic set of Hugh Grant’s Notting Hill shop
Fola Orebiyi was helped by horrified onlookers who are 'shaken to the core' by brutal stabbing in Notting Hill
THE tragic teen knifed to death just yards from the iconic bookshop featured in the film Notting Hill was allegedly protecting a friend over a "silly argument" when he was killed.
Fola Orebiyi died on the pavement of Portobello Road in front of horrified onlookers who say he was chased by a gang on bikes.
His pal, who wouldn't give his name, lay flowers for the 16-year-old and said: "Fola was a lovely boy. So lovely.
"He wouldn't hurt a fly.
"I know what happened, he was protecting a friend over a silly beef which turned violent.
"But no arrests have been made. They haven't caught the people who did this.
"I put sunflowers down for him."
Witnesses say drinkers at the Portobello Star pub rushed to help the boy as they saw him stagger down the street at 8.45pm yesterday evening, but he collapsed near to Portobello Arts Club.
But despite paramedics' efforts, the youngster lost his fight for life just two doors down from the book shop featured in Hugh Grant's Notting Hill film.
He is the fourth teenager to be killed in London so far this year.
A mum-of-one said she watched police resuscitate the teen after he collapsed.
The woman who asked not to be named said: ";It was traumatising.
"It took half an hour for the ambulance to arrive even though there are hospitals all around.
"I spoke to the person who called the police and he said it took them so long to get here.
All I could see were his feet and lots of blood. I'm a mum, for me this is so sad, that's someone's child. That's someone's baby.
Witness
"The police were all on him trying to resuscitate. All I could see were his feet and lots of blood.
"I'm a mum, for me this is so sad, that's someone's child. That's someone's baby."
Tributes at the scene of the murder include flowers, candles, pictures and a box of tissues for mourners.
An elderly resident nearby, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I was watching TV when I heard an awful commotion downstairs.
"I watched out of the window and could see the reflection of a police car.
"There were loads of people including paramedics with orange vests on."
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She added: "There was a crowd of people watching.
"We could see paramedics working on him, there was blood everywhere.
"Then, suddenly, they all stepped back and we knew they didn't step back because he'd survived.
"A young boy was murdered here. It is such a waste of a child's life. It's just awful."
Met Police have now launched a murder investigation, with officers from Homicide and Major Crime Command investigating reports of a fight in a nearby estate.
It is such a waste of a child's life. It's just awful.
Witness
The boy's family have been told of his tragic death, but a post-mortem examination is yet to be carried out.
He is believed to be a student at Holland Park Sixth Form was of West African origin.
Flowers have been lain as a tribute to the boy near by the scene of the incident which has now been cleaned, while many have expressed their shock at last night's events.
His friend Mohammed Aissaoui said on Facebook: "I love you so much bro I'll never forget you rest in peace xxx"
Bank manager Yousef said: "How sad, I cannot believe it."
Paul Kofi said: "Oh lord can't hold my tears so sad. He was just 16! This stabbing needs to stop."
Mark Shilvock said: "This is happening too much lately - another waste of youth."
While Stacy Watkins added: "This is my worst fear , so many gangs about young children getting caught up in really big bad things and then lose there (sic) life for it.
"I worry for my children growing up some of the attacks ain't even provoked some are just because there board it's got to stop."
Knife crime in the city of London
The latest stabbing means four teenagers have been knifed to death so far this year.
Met Police has been called to more than 9,000 knife crime incidents in London in the year ending April 2016.
There were 1,623 victims under the age of 25 including 866 teenagers, it said. Twelve were knifed to death.
Nineteen teenagers were murdered in London in 2015.
A total of 15 of those were stabbed.
That's the highest number of fatalities since 2008 when 29 were killed, 22 by being stabbed.
Aspiring musician Myron Yarde was 17 years old when he was stabbed to death during a fight in New Cross, south London on April 3.
Last month a promising young footballer who dreamed of playing for his parents’ country of origin was knifed to death outside his London home.
Matthew Kitandwe, 18, who had represented Uganda at youth level, was ambushed at his front door in Battersea during a daylight attack.
While back in January, 16-year-old Charlie Kutuyampo was stabbed in the chest at the party in Woodford, north London.
He died from his horrific injuries in hospital.
A Met Police spokesman said: "Police were called at approximately 8.45pm on Sunday, 3 July, to Portobello Road W11, by London Ambulance Service to reports of a male being stabbed.
"Officers attended the scene and immediately implemented first aid and CPR to an injured male.
"London Ambulance Service and London' Air Ambulance arrived shortly after.
"The victim - a 16-year-old boy - was pronounced dead at the scene."
So far cops have not made any arrests, but their investigation continues.
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