A 15-year-old schoolgirl on her way to The Old Palace of John Whitgift School, in Croydon, South London was stabbed to death on the morning of Wedesday 27 September.

The Year 11 girl, Eliyanna Andam, has just got off a bus with a group of friends when she was stabbed in the neck. The bus driver, passers-by and police tried to help her, but paramedics, who witnesses say worked on her for 40 minutes. were unable to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.20am.

Witnesses said the weapon used in the attack looked like a long knife with a jagged edge. Two 15 year old girls travelling with the victim were reported to be distraught.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested by police shortly after the incident. Media reports suggest the victim was attacked when she attempted to intervene when the boy  became agitated while attempting unsuccessfully to give  flowers to his ex-girlfriend. He is  being detained in custody and questioned by detectives. Chief superintendent Andy Brittain said: “We remain in the early stages of our investigation, however based on what we know so far, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this offence.”

The Old Palace of John Whitgift School is a selective independent girls’ school. A spokesperson said the whole school was “deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of a much loved and valued pupil”.