Teenagers from Hammersmith area released on bail

A ninth teenager from the Hammersmith area has been arested over the murder of 15 year-old Fulham schoolboy Sofyen Belamouadden.

The latest arrest happened after a 19 year old youth handed himself at a West London police station on Wednesday afternoon.

He spent the night in custody in a South London police station along with eight other teenagers, all from the Hammersmith area who were arrested at 6.30 am yesterday.

All nine have now been released on bail.

Sofyen, who lived in East Acton and attended Henry Compton School in Kingwood Road, was fatally stabbed in Victoria Station's ticket hall on March 25.

Police, who recovered two knives from the scene, believe his death took place during a pre-planned fight between groups of teens.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) yesterday arrested the eight teenagers, seven aged 16 and one aged 17 for conspiracy to cause violent disorder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

A further 13 students, from south London, have already appeared in court charged with Sofyen's murder.

Victoria Bukky Osoteku, 18, and 10 youths aged between 16 and 17, who cannot be named, were remanded in custody to appear in court again at a later date.

As well as attending school in Fulham, Sofyen played football for Chelsea Kickz, a scheme run by the Premier League club for young people in deprived areas, and for Acton Garden Village Youth Sunday League team.

After his death, a Chelsea FC spokesman paid tribute to him, saying Sofyen was a talented footballer and adding that he was a "valued participant" in the scheme.

His schoolmates at Henry Compton School, Sofyen's fellow pupils created an impromptu memorial in playground and decorated it with flowers and tributes. The school also created two writing walls where students could leave their own personal messages.

The school, who said that Sofyen was missed and would always be remembered also opened a Book of Remembrance which in due course will be presented to his family.

Det Supt Ashley Croft of the HSCC said that Sofyen had tragically lost his life through a "reckless act of violence".

April 28, 2010