Daniel Anjorin: Schoolboy killed in Hainault sword attack remembered as 'gentle, true scholar'
Daniel's family are being supported by specialist officers as a police investigation continues, ITV News' Chloe Keedy reports
The 14-year-old schoolboy killed in the Hainault sword attacks has been named by police as Daniel Anjorin.
Daniel was a pupil at Bancroft’s, the same independent school in east London attended by Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a medical student who was murdered in a knife attack in Nottingham last summer.
In a statement the school said it was "devastated" by the "heartbreaking news" of Daniel's death, leaving them in "profound shock and sorrow".
The school added: "Daniel joined Bancroft's at seven years old and quickly became a core member of our community. 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. Losing such a young pupil is something we will always struggle to come to terms with.
"We are now doing all we can to support our entire community through this most painful situation.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Daniel's family during this incredibly difficult time."
Speaking after dropping off supplies to Daniel’s family on Wednesday, family friend Janti Charalambous said her son attended Snaresbrook Prep School with him, and remembered him playing in the street as a child.
She told said: “Daniel was an amazing young man.
“He was good at his studies. He was good at his sports. Very much loved by many, many people and came from a wonderful family.
“The family are in shock. Obviously they are very heartbroken. He was such a young boy taken away from his family.”
She went on: “I was talking to my son and he was so heartbroken, he can remember Daniel driving his little car and playing in the street.
“He said he can’t imagine it happening to his own brother.
“We’ve known the family for many years now and we are praying for them.
“We are praying for them and supporting them in any shape or form.”
Another friend, Ade Caxton-Cole, who accompanied Janti, added: “They have hope and we have hope that we will all be seeing him one day so long as we have hope in Christ.
“Faith is keeping them, Christ is keeping them, the Lord is keeping them. It’s important for all of us and for them.”
Police also gave further details of how the sword attack in Hainault unfolded saying: "We know that a 33-year-old man was struck when the suspect crashed his van into the property in Laing Close. He was then attacked by the suspect and suffered a wound to his neck.
"A 35-year-old man suffered lacerations to his arm when he was attacked inside a nearby property.
"The suspect then went on to attack Daniel Anjorin who, as we know, tragically died from his injuries.
"Officers arrived at the scene within 12 minutes of the first call. They used their Pava incapacitant spray and Taser, however these had limited impact.
"Two officers were subsequently attacked by the suspect, causing serious injuries. They will require long-term rehabilitation to help them recover.
"The suspect fled again before being surrounded by other officers in Thurlow Gardens. They used Taser to overpower him."
A police statement added: "A 35-year-old man suffered lacerations to his arm when he was attacked inside a nearby property.
"The suspect then went on to attack Daniel Anjorin who, as we know, tragically died from his injuries.
"Officers arrived at the scene within 12 minutes of the first call. They used their Pava incapacitant spray and Taser, however these had limited impact.
"Two officers were subsequently attacked by the suspect, causing serious injuries. They will require long-term rehabilitation to help them recover.
"The suspect fled again before being surrounded by other officers in Thurlow Gardens. They used Taser to overpower him.
"He was arrested before being taken to hospital due to injuries from the crash. He is now in police custody.
"We are aware of speculation about previous police contact with the suspect. Urgent checks of our systems have so far found no trace of a prior incident so far but we are working to be absolutely certain".
At Prime Minister's Questions Rishi Sunak said Daniel's death was “absolutely heartbreaking” and he paid tribute to the “highest standards of public service” shown by police in dealing with the attack.
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