Bancroft’s School expressed profound sorrow on Wednesday as they mourned the passing of 14-year-old British-Nigerian student, Daniel Anjorin, who succumbed to injuries from a sword attack in London.
The Metropolitan Police of the United Kingdom disclosed details concerning the tragic incident that claimed the young boy’s life on Tuesday, shedding light on the unfolding of the violence.
Daniel tragically lost his life on Tuesday morning while en route to Bancroft’s School in Hainault, located in the eastern part of London. He was assaulted by an assailant wielding what appeared to be a Samurai-style sword.
According to a statement on their official website, authorities have apprehended a 36-year-old man suspected of the murder, who remains in custody. As of Wednesday, the suspect had not been identified.
The school attended by Daniel Anjorin released a statement expressing deep shock and grief over the loss of their student.
“He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits. His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us,” Bancroft’s, in Woodford Green, near Hainault, wrote.
The police said the horror unfolded just before 7 am when the accused crashed a van into a house fence, hitting a man before stabbing him in the neck.
A 35-year-old man was then attacked inside a nearby property, causing lacerations to his arm.
The suspect then went on to attack Anjorin who, according to the police, tragically died from the injuries.
Police arrived on the scene 12 minutes after the first emergency call and attempted to neutralize the suspect with incapacitant spray and a Taser gun but these had little effect.
The suspect seriously injured two police officers, both of whom required surgery on Tuesday and remained in hospital.
One of the victims, a woman, suffered severe injuries to her arm and nearly lost a hand, the police said.
Before the Wednesday update from the police, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the attack on X.
“This is a shocking incident. My thoughts are with those affected and their families,” he wrote on Tuesday.
He thanked the emergency services for their response and paid tribute to the bravery shown by police on the scene.
Some Nigerians have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to mourn the deceased and console the family. “You did not deserve this, Daniel,” @Ttall posted on Wednesday. @samuelkasumu said Anjorin had his whole life ahead of him, saying he “can’t stop thinking about Daniel and his family. If our hearts are broken, how much more theirs?”
Another user, @melissasigodo, urged sympathisers to keep the deceased’s family in prayer.
“Daniel Anjorin, 14, died in hospital after being stabbed in Hainault. Please keep Mrs Anjorin, her husband and their other children in your prayers,” the user wrote on X.
