Manhunt for ‘group of 30 males armed with baseball bats’ after 16-year-old boy murdered near DLR station

A manhunt has been launched for a large group of males who were seen armed with baseball bats in connection with the murder of a teenage boy, police have said.

Commuters alerted London Ambulance Service ​on Tuesday morning after seeing a 16-year-old boy who was unresponsive on an area of scrubland at the rear of a DLR station in Newham, London.

The boy, who had suffered head injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.

A murder investigation has been launched into the death and police are working to establish whether the incident is linked to a large group who were seen in the area the day before.

On Monday night, at 7:50pm, police received a call from a member of the public reporting a group of about 30 males who were carrying baseball bats near Gallions Reach DLR station in east London.

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The Met said they sent officers to search the area but could not find any trace of the suspects.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, but police have spoken with a family of a boy reported missing last week, who they suspect may be the victim.

His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police said.

A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.

“A young teenage boy has died and his family and friends are devastated,” Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith said.

“They want answers and they deserve all the help the public can give them.”

Mr Smith has called on anyone who was in the area of Gallions Reach on Monday evening to contact police.

“We need anyone with information to tell us what they know. In particular, we want to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Gallions Reach at around 8pm on Monday,” the DCI said.

“If you were a passing motorist using a dashcam you may have recorded something vital, please make contact.”