Second teen in 24 hours dies amid calls to tackle London violence

MP blames drug trade and public sector cuts as 16- and 17- year- olds are killed

MPs and campaigners have said authorities are failing to get a grip on violent crime in London after two teenagers were shot and killed on the same night in the capital.

A 17- year- old girl died first after a drive- by shooting in Tottenham, north London. Police said on Tuesday evening that a 16- year- old boy shot on Monday had died in hospital after succumbing to his injuries.

With violent crime levels feared to be heading back to their worst level in more than a decade the two became the capital’s 47th and 48th suspected murder victim this year.

Labour MP David Lammy said the situation was “worse than I’ve ever seen it”. He blamed the rapid growth of the illicit drug economy and cuts to public services for the rising violence.

Tanesha was with friends in Tottenham, north London, when a gunman opened fire from a moving car at about 9.30pm on Monday. “The car just pulled up and started shooting,” said a 21- year- old from the area, who did not want to be named.

By the time police and paramedics arrived the victim was surrounded by dozens of people, including her mother, according to witnesses. “She was screaming. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t deserve that. Her mum didn’t deserve to watch her die,” one said.

Tanesha’s killing and an apparently unrelated shooting three miles away in Walthamstow that resulted in the 16- year- old boy dying on Tuesday evening have fuelled concerns about a rise in violent crime in London in 2018. There were eight killings in January, 15 in February and 22 in March, and there have been three so far in April.

Return to 2005 levels?

At the present rate, London could surpass 180 homicides this year, a return to levels last seen in 2005 when there were 181. Last year there were 116 homicides in London, excluding the deaths in the Westminster, London Bridge and Finsbury Park terrorist attacks.

The spate of violence has been met with growing calls for action from victims’ loved ones. Last week the family of Abraham Badru, who was shot as he opened his car boot in Hackney, appealed for an end to “the gun culture [ that] is becoming rampant in our community”.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, argued that austerity was responsible for the growth inviolence, tweeting: “Government cuts have decimated services for young Londoners.”