A 16-year-old boy has died from stab wounds after being attacked in the street in south London.

Shakilus Townsend suffered multiple injuries in the attack in Thornton Heath, and died in hospital overnight.

He is the 18th teenage victim of London's knife crime crisis this year. His murder is believed to be gang-related.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is another senseless incident in which a young life has been taken away by a knife.

"Given that this happened outside a block of flats in broad daylight, I am certain there are people who will have witnessed this murder.

"I would urge those people to come forward and speak to the police to help us bring justice to Shakilus's family and friends."

Shakilus was attacked four days after 16-year-old Ben Kinsella was knifed to death in Islington, north London.

Later the same day, the bodies of French students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were found riddled with knife wounds after a flat fire in New Cross, south east London.

Tunisian national Hamouda Bessaad was stabbed to death on Old Kent Road, south east London, on Monday, while Dee Willis, 28, died after a knife attack in Peckham a day later.

Met Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson announced the creation of a dedicated 75-man taskforce to target gang members.

He said knife crime is the force's "number one priority" and the officers will be deployed to the worst affected of London's 32 boroughs "with immediate effect".

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