A 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death was a student at Woolwich Polytechnic School, the News Shopper can reveal.

The boy was found injured in Eglinton Road near Ripon Road at around 6.30pm on September 22.

Police and London Ambulance Service crews attended, however he was pronounced dead shortly after.

His next of kin have since been informed.

A spokesperson for Woolwich Polytechnic School said they are devastated after the tragic death of their student. 

They explained: “All our thoughts are with the young man's family and friends.

“We are here to support them however needed during this unimaginably difficult time.

“The school is working closely with the local authority and police.”

Tasha Collins, who has lived in the area for 14 years, said she tried to save the schoolboy as he lay in the road outside her flat.

The 43-year-old said: “I was upstairs in my bedroom, I had my nightshirt on, I heard screaming from across the road saying ‘someone’s been stabbed, someone’s been stabbed’.

“So, I grabbed a sheet, I had no shoes or socks on or anything, and I just literally ran to where just near where the tent is, and there was someone laying face down on the floor.

“I turned him over, he had a gash in his head and I thought ‘that’s not bleeding enough’.

“His leg moved and there was a massive pool of blood, so I just stemmed the flow of blood until the paramedics got here.

“I asked if I could go and shower because I was covered in his blood, and they said ‘yes’ so I went in and showered.

“I came back out and they (the police) called me over because I was the last one with him – he was going to me ‘I’m 15, don’t let me die’ and I said to him ‘you’re not going to die, mate’.”

A woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the News Shopper that she didn't send her child to school as he was "traumatised" following the incident.

She explained: "He shouldn't be witnessing this. He's been crying all day.

"It's not normal, kids can't even go to school on their own. We as the community have tried to save this boy. We saw him pour him with blood.

"My son saw a sword the size of his leg. We've asked the council for CCTV, we're getting ignored.

"I'm scared for their safety. It's not going to end. It's going to keep happening."

No arrests have been made and a crime scene remains in place.

A statement from Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who is leading the investigation, said: "Once again we have had to tell a child’s family that their loved one has been killed in an act of violence using a knife.

"Our thoughts are with them as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.

"The fact that a 15-year-old teenager, who had his whole life ahead of him, has been taken from his family in this way, is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of ‘zombie-style’ knives.

"We are committed to doing everything in our power to taking these weapons off our streets.

"We know that this murder will also send shockwaves throughout the community and I understand the genuine concern this will create. We share those concerns.

"You can expect to see your local officers in the area over the coming days.

"Please speak with them if you have any questions or need any support or advice.

"Local teams are working closely with the specialist homicide detectives so that we can establish exactly what happened as quickly as possible.

"Enquiries continue at pace today.

"We need your help to find answers the victim’s family desperately needs. Do you have any information that might help our detectives?

"Even the smallest detail might prove vital.

"Were you in the area of Eglinton Road on Sunday evening around 6.30pm? Did you see anyone running from the area?

"If you live in the area do you have any CCTV, doorbell cameras or dash cam footage?

"We have an online portal where you can upload images or video footage.

"If you have useful information, please call us on 020 8721 4005 quoting Operation Baghaze."

If you have any information which might be useful to the police, please contact them by calling 101 and quoting reference CAD 5989/22Sep.

If you aren’t comfortable speaking to the police, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is completely anonymous