Oxford Street Stabbing: Three Bailed

Oxford Street Stabbing: Three Bailed

A 20-year-old and two 16-year-olds arrested today on suspicion of the murder of a teenager on the UK's busiest shopping street have been bailed, police said.

Seydou Diarrassouba, 18, was stabbed in the heart after a fight broke out at a Foot Locker sports shoe store on London's Oxford Street on Boxing Day.

Scotland Yard said the three males were arrested, taken to separate London police stations, and bailed to dates in mid-January pending further investigation.

Eleven people had already been arrested in the investigation. All are currently on bail until dates in January.

The arrests came after 17 suspected gang members were held in a bid to dampen "rising tensions" and prevent reprisal attacks following the killing.

Investigators said a number of gangs were present at the time and were aware of people wanting to "seek retaliation or revenge" for what had happened.

In order to pre-empt any further violence, officers yesterday conducted a series of raids across the capital, arresting 17 people for a range of offences including grievous bodily harm, robbery, affray, intent to supply drugs, burglary, forgery and handling stolen goods. A large amount of cash was also seized.

The motive of the attack on Mr Diarrassouba is yet to be established. The teenager, from Mitcham, south-west London, died from a single stab wound which pierced his heart.

In a statement released through police, his family said: "Our loving son and brother has been snatched away from us.

"A simple shopping trip has turned into a complete nightmare for our whole family.

"We are urging anyone who was in Oxford Street at the time of the incident to come forward with any evidence, no matter how little relevance they think it could have, to help the police with their ongoing investigation."

It added: "Whoever took his life took our backbone away.

"Seydou kept us upright and now we feel weak as we have lost a very special part of us.

"Life seems meaningless without our special son and brother.

"All we can say is 'Why?' He had so much consideration for others. We want Seydou to be remembered as the loving, down-to-earth, respectful and charismatic young man he was."

A Facebook page called R.I.P. Seydou has received dozens of tributes from friends of the victim and condemnation of youth violence.

A number of weapons were recovered at the scene and police have said they are particularly interested in obtaining videos of the fight shot on camera phones.

Another youth was stabbed on the same street just a few hours later.

The 11 people arrested earlier this week - two 22-year-olds, five 19-year-olds, three 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old - have been bailed to dates in mid-January.

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