16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder after woman stabbed to death on Christmas Eve

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 22-year-old woman was stabbed to death in south London.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to a residential property at Spenlow House, Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, shortly after 10pm on Christmas Eve.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and the London Air Ambulance provided first aid to the woman, but she died at the scene of the accident.

Her family has been informed.

The boy, who was known to the victim, was arrested nearby a short time later and is in custody at a police station in south London.

Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local police chief for Southwark, said patrols in the area would be increased in the coming days.

“This is a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the woman's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” he said.

“We recognise that this will also have an impact on the wider community and we will be deploying additional patrols in the area over the coming days to ensure safety.”

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command and Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie has urged anyone with information to come forward.

“Our investigation is ongoing and a team of investigators is working hard to find out what happened when a young woman lost her life,” he said.

“My thoughts and those of my team are with her family and friends during this terrible time.

“One person has been arrested, however we still require information from anyone who was in the area of ​​Spenlow House between 7pm and 11pm on Christmas Eve and may have seen or heard anything suspicious.

“I would urge anyone who has information that may be relevant to our investigation to come forward immediately, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed at the time.”