Detectives investigating the stabbing of schoolboy Joel Adesina in London’s East End last night arrested a woman on ‘suspicion of murder’.
The 24-year-old woman was taken to a police station for questioning, Scotland Yard has revealed.
Customers in a late-night off-license comforted Joel as he lay dying following a stabbing late Friday night.
Joel ran into the Ekol corner store seeking refuge, screaming for help, after being involved in a confrontation involving his friends and the occupants of a car.
The 15-year-old from Dagenham was stabbed in Bethnal Green’s narrow Padbury Court, a cobblestone cul-de-sac at the back of Brick Lane, which witnesses said spilled out along Gibraltar Walk then onto Bethnal Green Road.
“He ran into my shop saying ‘please help’—he had a knife wound to his stomach,” a store manager who asked not to be identified said.
“Then he dropped to the floor by the counter, blood everywhere. A customer called for an ambulance.”
Police cordoned off the area and set up a forensic tent next to the ally where Joel was stabbed. The off-license was also closed over the weekend as forensic scientists studied the premises inch by inch.
“They examined the shop for two days, working all night with cameras,” the manager added.
“We lost all our trade, but that’s not important. A boy has died. It’s very sad—he was only 15.”
Joel was rushed the Royal London in Whitechapel, but died less than three hours later at 2.12am on Saturday.
The tight-knit East End neighbourhood around Gibraltar Walk was in shock following Friday night’s stabbing.
Film-maker Aissa Bimmia said: “One of the teenagers ran into the corner off-licence and fainted—that’s where he ended up, with blood on the shop-floor—this kid was just 15.”
Primark store worker Maria Gala, a near neighbour, said: “I saw a youth running and I heard people screaming.”
Construction worker Ashley Juan, 30, said: “It’s tragic—you don’t expect this on your doorstep.”
A nine-year-old boy in a flat overlooking Padbury Court said he saw youths chasing Joel and then heard screams.
Detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command are appealing for witnesses after the death of Joel Adesina, who came from Dagenham.
Witnesses or anyone with information is being urged to call 020-8345 3734, the non-emergency line on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.
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