Three boys stabbed in east London

Police appealed for witnesses yesterday after three boys were stabbed by a group of youths in east London.

The boys aged 15, 16 and 17 were knifed in the chest and abdomen in Kings Road, Chingford on Tuesday. Two of them suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries. The third is described as stable.

Police said they believed they were with a group of friends when they were approached by four youths aged between 18 and 20.

"An altercation took place between one of the suspects who then stabbed the 17-year-old victim. As his friends tried to help they were also stabbed," the Metropolitan police said in a statement.

Last year, 28 teenagers were killed in violent incidents in London, most in stabbings, fuelling a national debate over youth crime, gangs and the state of British society.

In December, the government said a police crackdown on knife crime in 10 "hotspots" across England had led to a big fall in stabbings and in teenagers carrying weapons over the summer.