Teenager had his head stamped on by vicious mob

THE HUNT is on to find a gang of thugs who viciously attacked a schoolboy and left him fighting for his life on Friday afternoon.

The 15-year-old victim was chased and beaten by the mob at the junction of Kilburn Lane and Beethoven Street, Queen’s Park, at around 4.30pm.

Detectives investigating the attack believe the boy had his head stamped on during the ferocious attack.

After being treated at the scene by paramedics, he was taken to hospital where he is in a critical but stable condition.

His attackers fled the scene, some on foot, other on bikes.

Detective Sergeant Alison O’Farrell, of Westminster Serious Violence Team, said: “This appears to have been an unprovoked attack during which the intention was to cause serious harm to the victim.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed, or knows anything about, the incident to come forward and assist this investigation.”

The attack happened yards away from a shoot out the day before believed to have been between rival youths from South Kilburn and the Mozart estate.

Police responding to reports of gunfire found three cars riddled with bullets in Walterton Road, Queen’s Park, on Thursday at 7.20pm.

The shooting is being investigated by Operation Trident, the Metropolitan police’s specialist team that probes gun crime.

A police spokesman said: “We believe the incident involved groups who are known to each other.”

A resident, who did not want to give his name for fear of reprisals, said: “I think the majority of South Kilburn residents are sadly used to seeing incidents on our streets.

“There is a rising level of tension on our streets. Sadly, the good weather just heightens the risk of these incidents.”

Daniel Smith, 22, from Queen’s Park, was an innocent casualty of the feud after he was gunned down outside KFC in Harrow Road, Paddington, in a case of mistaken identity in May last year.

Melody Odusanya, of Tell It Parents Action Group, a community group that works to tackle gang crime in the area, said people cannot get their heads round why people fight over postcodes when they live so close together.

She said: “People say it is a black or gang or trident thing but it’s not it’s a mentality thing. It’s just sick.

“It’s so depressing; it just highlights the work that needs to be done.”

Anybody with information about the attack call the Serious Violence Team at Marylebone Police Station on 020 7321 9314 or alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.