The first teenager to be murdered this year was stabbed to death as he tried to help a friend get his stolen mobile phone back, it can be revealed.
College student Anas Mezenner died in the early hours of this morning after he was knifed by a gang in Haringey, north London last night.
The college student had been asked by friends to help retrieve a stolen bag before he was set upon with knives by the gang just yards from Anas’s home in what his friends have called a ‘premeditated attack’.
Anas, who volunteered at his local youth club and had dreams of becoming a pilot, was taken to hospital but died from his wounds.
The teenager’s grief-stricken family said Anas was ‘very academic at school’, adding he was a ‘respectful quiet and humble boy who did not deserve this.’
His devastated older brother, 21, described him as a ‘legend’ today and said Anas was a ‘humble’ person who was studying media at City and Islington College.
He added that Anas enjoyed playing on his PlayStation, watching documentaries about flying and joining him for weekly football games.
Scotland Yard has now launched a murder investigation.
Anas Mezenner had been at home all day when friends called him to help retrieve a stolen bag last night. But as they approached the group just yards from Anas’s home in Haringey, north London, they were attacked with knives in what friends say was a ‘premeditated attack’
Forensic officers next to a police tent on West Green Road in Haringey, north London as police launch a murder investigation
The 17-year-old college student, who volunteered at his local youth club and had dreams of becoming a pilot, was taken to hospital but died in the early hours. Pictured, police at the scene today
The family paid tribute to their ‘lovely’ son today.
Anas’ mother said: ‘He did not deserve this at all. He was a lovely boy. He was studying media at the moment, but he wanted to be a pilot.
‘He was very academic at school. He got all his GCSEs.’
His brother said Anas had simply gone to see his friends when he was attacked, adding: ‘There was no need for this to happen. He did not deserve this at all.
‘He was a very nice and respectful boy. He was a quiet and humble person.
‘He was always upstairs playing PlayStation with friends, then he would go to school and come back. Then he came to football with me on Mondays and Fridays.’
One friend said Anas’s mother was at her son’s hospital bedside until 5am this morning in Whitechapel, east London.
Anas Mezenner was allegedly stabbed as he and friends confronted a group yards from his home
Scotland Yard has now launched a murder investigation. Pictured, a forensic officer at the scene
The teenager’s father is waiting for Covid test results before he can fly back from their native Algeria.
A friend said: ‘He was such a good guy, he was totally innocent. He was at home the entire day until his friend called him out because his phone got stolen.
‘The phone got stolen so they called their friends out and thought maybe a fist fight to get it back. But it turned out the others straight away attacked them with knives.
‘A friend of mine saw them with bottles and hammers. It was premeditated. His friends were terrified too. They all ran off and he was the only one who got hurt.
‘He died in hospital this morning in Whitechapel. His mum was there but we’re trying to do a Covid test for his dad to come back from Algeria.
‘He would have been walking down with his hands in his pockets as he does and he was probably just caught off guard.
‘He was involved in the youth club and everybody there and in the community said he was a good boy. There was nothing bad to say about him.
The Met said no arrests have been made following the stabbing last night
‘He was a college student and he had an entrepreneurial mindset. He was interested in investing and bitcoin.’
The Met Police said in a statement: ‘Police were called at 21:10hrs to West Green Road, junction with Willow Walk, N15, following reports of a stabbing.
‘Officers attended with London Ambulance Service and found a male, aged 17, suffering from a stab injury.
‘CPR was administered at the scene before the victim was taken to hospital. Sadly he was pronounced dead at 04:25hrs.
‘His next of kin are aware and are being supported by specialist officers. At this early stage there have been no arrests but homicide detectives are investigating.’