Schoolboy, 14, stabbed to dying on London bus ‘was an aspiring gangster rapper’: Manhunt continues for ‘assassin’
A 14-year-old boy who was knifed to death on a London bus is believed to be an aspiring gangster rapper.
The teenager, who has been named online only as ‘Grippa’, was stabbed in front of horrified passengers on a route 472 bus in Woolwich at around 2.30pm on Tuesday.
Tributes have since poured in for the young musician with devastated friends on social media saying he was ‘taken too soon’.
Some also re-posted videos of Grippa drill rapping. His latest track ‘Bangers & Mash’ was released on Christmas Day.
A manhunt is currently ongoing for the knifeman who carried out the ‘horrendous’ attack. No arrests have yet been made.
A close friend of the victim broke down in tears when he arrived at the cordon yesterday after being told by his mother that his pal had been stabbed.
He told The Mirror: ‘He didn’t deserve this. He was a nice person. He was good at football, but I don’t think he was presuming it as a career.’
MailOnline has contacted the Met Police for comment.
A 14-year-old boy who was knifed to death on a London bus is believed to be an aspiring gangster rapper named online as ‘Grippa’
Tributes have poured in for the young musician named ‘Grippa’ with devastated friends on social media saying he was ‘taken too soon’
Grippa posted videos of him drill rapping online with his latest track Bangers & Mash released on Christmas Day
An image from the scene after a 14-year-old was stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after paramedics arrived at the scene on Woolwich Church Road, police have said.
At a press conference last night Chief superintendent Louise Sargent said officers are ‘working at pace’ to track the alleged murderer down.
Giving her condolences to the boy’s friends and family, she said: ‘This is a horrendous crime and I can’t imagine what they are going through right now.’
Residents of the housing estates close by last night told of their shock and sadness at the youngsters death.
Mechanic Dave Murray, 62, from Plumstead said: ‘It’s tragic. Whatever those boys were fighting about it’s never worth it.’
Mother Shula added: ‘I can’t believe that a boy was stabbed to death on the bus. Is it too dangerous to go on the bus now?’
One resident who lives inside the cordoned off area said: ‘This is heartbreaking.
‘I can’t believe this has happened. We have only just started the New Year.
‘A 14 year old boy stabbed in broad daylight on a bus. What is the world coming to?’
A woman working at a nearby church said she saw an air ambulance and other emergency service vehicles arrive at the scene, but did not see any of the passengers from the bus.
The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.
‘This heart-breaking violence has absolutely no place in our city.
‘I am in close contact with police leaders – an investigation is underway and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area.’
Footage posted to social media showed first responders performing first aid at the scene
Police guard a cordon after a teenager was fatally stabbed on a London bus on Tuesday, January 7, 2025
The Met Police attended, along with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
Ch Supt Sargent said: ‘I know this will be a worrying time for everyone here in Woolwich, and even more so given the very young age of the victim.
‘The community can expect to see an enhanced police presence around the scene and the surrounding area I would urge anyone who witnessed this horrific incident or has any information that might help to call police on 101.’
Forensic officers could be seen taking pictures of the road close to where the youngster was stabbed.
The incident came just 24 hours after an 18-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after being knifed just over a mile away from today’s murder scene.
The teenager, who attended Shooters Hill College in Woolwich, is in a critical in hospital after the stabbing in Prince Imperial Road at around 4.20pm on Monday.
Police confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the the two stabbings were not linked, reported MyLondon.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.29pm today (7 January) to reports of a stabbing at the junction of Woolwich Church Street and Church Hill, SE18.
‘We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and a paramedic from our tactical response unit. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
‘Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.’
Several London bus routes are on diversion as a result of the incident, including the 161, 177, 180 and 472.
Forensic officers were seen on board the double decker bus shining torches and gathering evidence on Tuesday
A forensic officer is seen holding a weapons tube used to collect evidence while on board the bus – January 7, 2025
Police cordons remain in place after a murder probe was launched – no one has yet been arrested
Traffic was queuing in both directions and locals were being warned to avoid the area.
Local councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan posted on social media and said: ‘I’m deeply saddened to hear of the murder of a 14 year old boy in Woolwich today. Detectives from the Serious and Complex team are investigating.’
Margaret Mizen, the mother of Jimmy Mizen who was killed aged 16 in London in 2008 when a glass dish was smashed into his face, said her heart went out to the family of the 14 year old.
Writing on X, she said: ‘Today, it is incredibly sad, may this young man rest in eternal peace. His friends and family are in my prayers as they somehow come to terms with this cruel act. They will all be feeling completely heartbroken.’
Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Matthew Pennycook, urged anyone with any information to contact police.
‘Deeply saddened that another young life has been lost in our community today following a stabbing in Woolwich,’ he wrote on X. ‘My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.’
Anthony Okereke, the leader of Royal Borough Greenwich, said the council was working closely with Scotland Yard in response to ‘this horrific incident’.
‘I am deeply saddened to learn about the tragic murder of a young person in our borough,’ the Labour councillor said.
‘My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with their family as they face this unimaginable loss.’
Mark Rodney, chief executive officer of Project Lifeline, a community interest charity, said the death of a 14-year-old boy was ‘devastating’.
An air ambulance arrived at the scene but unfortunately the boy was declared dead by paramedics at the scene
Police at the scene in Woolwich tonight, south east London, where a 14-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on a route 472 bus
He said: ‘It’s another devastating blow to the community. Young people are being let down.’
Knife crime is on the rise in London, with 15,016 offences recorded in 2023/24, up from 12,786 the year before, a 17.4% rise.
It is the highest number of offences since 2019/2020, after which there was a significant drop during the Covid pandemic, followed by a steady annual increase.
According to the Crime in England and Wales 2024 report, around 30% of knife-enabled crime was recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting.
This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023.
The youngest victim in 2024 was aged 14.
Sadiq Khan, previously MP for Tooting in south London, became the Mayor of London in May 2016, followed by re-elections in 2021 and 2024.
As Mayor, he is responsible for policing, but during his time in City Hall, London has been dubbed the ‘knife crime capital’ and the Met Police has been forced into special measures.
Sir Sadiq was accused of ‘losing control’ on crime in the city, with a reported 38% increase in knife offences since he took office.
The Met Police has been approached for more information.
If anyone witnessed the incident or has any information which may help, they are urged to call police on 101 with ref 3795/07JAN25 or call Crimestoppers anonymously.
