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White House Correspondent
A schoolboy who was stabbed to death in Woolwich has been named as two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Daejuan Campbell, 15, died on Sunday evening in an attack police believe involved a zombie-style knife just before a ban against the deadly weapons came into force.
The 15-year-old was found with a fatal stab injury on Eglinton Road in south-east London at around 6.30pm amid reports of a disturbance.
The Metropolitan Police subsequently launched a murder investigation. It confirmed on Tuesday that a 52-year-old man and an 18-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of murder and both remain in police custody.
In the aftermath of the incident, the force issued a warning over zombie-style knives. Just two days after the fatal stabbing, on Tuesday, new legislation making it illegal to own the blades came into force in England and Wales.
Speaking outside Plumstead Police Station on Monday, Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry said: “The fact a 15-year-old teenager who had his whole life ahead of him has been taken from his family in this way is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives. We are committed to doing everything in our power to take these weapons off the streets.”
The government announced a ban on zombie knives and machetes earlier this year as part of efforts to reduce knife crime, with campaigners including actor Idris Elba pushing for the large blades to be outlawed.
The new legislation closes a loophole to an initial ban on the knives first imposed in 2016, which meant the weapon could be kept and sold if it did not have images depicting violence.
From Tuesday, the banned knives will be defined as “any bladed weapon over eight inches in length with a plain cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade, or multiple sharp points like spikes”.
On Monday, a white forensic tent and police cordon were put in place at the scene in Eglinton Road, while officers searched the area and spoke to neighbours.
In the police update issued on Tuesday, Detective Chief Superintendent Lawry said: “My thoughts are with Daejuan’s loved ones as they try and come to terms with this heart-breaking incident.”
He also urged any witnesses of Sunday’s attack, who may have seen someone running away from the area, or anyone with video footage to come forward.
Anyone with information has been asked to call police on 0208 721 4005 quoting Operation Baghaze.