Two 16-year-old boys have been charged with murder after a teenager was stabbed to death outside a KFC in central London.
Josiph Beker, 17, who was known by the family as Yousef, was attacked by a gang in broad daylight on Tuesday afternoon in Edgware Road, London.
He was repeatedly stabbed in a brawl as customers at the fast-food eatery queued for their meals.
Emergency services and police were called to the junction of Church Street at 1.54pm and Josiph was taken to hospital for treatment for stab injuries but died at around 7.30pm.
Three teenagers were arrested in connection with the incident on Friday.
The two 16-year-olds have been charged with murder, and an 18-year-old has been bailed pending further investigation, the Metropolitan Police said.
The boys are due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
A post-mortem examination on Thursday confirmed Josiph died from a stab wound to the chest.
His 19-year-old cousin said Josiph, who had been studying business at the City of Westminster College, might still be alive if he hadn’t gone in that day.
Josiph Beker, who was known by family as Josiph, was attacked by a gang in broad daylight on Tuesday afternoon in Edgware Road, London
He told the Evening Standard: ‘He told his mum that he didn’t want to go, saying he wasn’t well and hadn’t had much sleep the night before.
‘His mum doesn’t know what to do. She has been crying all day and hasn’t been able to eat or slept since.’
‘But he knew how dangerous it was to even go to college.
‘His mother is alive but she is dead on the inside. To raise a boy for 17 years and to have him taken away because people think they are gangsters, it’s just nonsense.’
Videos of the incident have since been published, with Josiph being the 21st teenager to be killed in London this year.
CCTV from a KFC diner showed a fight outside as shocked customers queued for their lunch
Diners watched as the fight continued on the street outside. Josiph later died in hospital
His cousin also added that the teenager had aspired to run his own business one day and described him as an ‘amazing boy’.
He added: ‘We grew up together and he was a sweetheart. He was a mummy’s boy, but he looked after his brother and sister.’
Another friend, who left flowers at the scene in tribute yesterday, claimed that Josiph had protected her from a group just hours before he was attacked.
Other tributes at the scene read: ‘RIP my bro, can’t believe you’re gone, I only saw you yesterday. Prayers for your family’, while another said: ‘From a teacher who knew your potential, rest in peace.’
Josiph had been studying business at the City of Westminster College (pictured above)
Superintendent Andy Brittain, from Westminster, said: ‘We are pleased with today’s arrests and I hope this shows the local community that we take such horrific incidents seriously, and are committed to tackling violence in our borough.
‘I want to reassure the residents and communities of Westminster that our officers are working with partners to do all we can to prevent such tragic attacks and are determined day and night to apprehend those involved and take weapons off the streets.’
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: ‘Josiph, known to his friends and family as Yousef, was outside KFC with friends before the attack happened.
Floral tributes were left close to the KFC Shop in the Edgware Road after the 17-year-old was stabbed to death
‘We believe an altercation broke out with another group which led up to the fatal stabbing.
‘At this very early stage we retain an open mind concerning motive but we need to know more about what happened before the incident began.
‘Lots of people were in the area at the time and may well have seen what unfolded.
‘We need them to do the right thing and get in touch with what they saw along with any images or moving footage captured before, during or after the attack.’
