Mother of bus stabbing victim, 14, pays tribute as police launch murder hunt

The mother of a 14-year-old boy stabbed to death on a London bus fears her son had been groomed by gangs and exposed to drugs before he was killed.

Kelyan Bokassa was attacked on a Route 472 double-decker on Woolwich Church Road just before 2.30pm on Tuesday.

His mother, Mary, 50, fought back tears as paid tribute to her “polite” and “caring” son, telling MailOnline he had spent time in care and lived rough on the streets for a year, where she feared criminals took advantage of him.

Kelyan is thought to have been an aspiring rapper making music on YouTube under the name “Grippa”, releasing a drill track, “Bangers & Mash”, on Christmas Day.

Police have launched a murder investigation, however, a motive for the killing has yet to be revealed. 

We’re joined by The London Standard’s crime editor, Anthony France, to discuss the tragic incident and what more must be done to stop youth violence.

In part two, Dr Jahangir Alom, an NHS emergency medicine doctor in north east London, on what we know about human metapneumovirus (HMPV), its risk and precautions to take this winter. 

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