Some 400 protesters, led by the sisters of murdered Ben Kinsella, have marched through London in protest of escalating knife crime.
Police stopped traffic to allow the group, many many wearing t-shirts with Ben’s picture, march along Islington’s Upper Street to the scene of the killing.
The procession tailed back several hundred yards and paused outside the home of London mayor Boris Johnson, which is en route to the murder scene.
The teen’s second cousin, Jason Kinsella, carrying a 10ft square banner proclaiming “Why Ben?”.
The group was led by Ben’s sisters – Brooke, Jade and Georgia.
As the crowd approached the spot where Ben died, they began shouting: “What
are we here for? Ben. Why are we here? No knives.”
The brother of former EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella was knifed to death when he became caught up in a fight that spilled out of a north London bar early on Sunday.
Officers found two knives in the local area, although it is not yet known whether they are connected to the incident.
Miss Kinsella, 24, described her brother as a “true angel” and pleaded for young people to put away their knives.
Police have arrested four teenagers in connection with the stabbing to death of the 16-year-old.
One arrest was made in Islington on Monday afternoon, while two arrests were made in Chadwell Heath later in the night.
A further arrest was made in Bethnal Green this morning.
Two 16-year-old boys arrested earlier in connection with the investigation have been bailed to return to a north London police station on a date in late August.
Scotland Yard would not confirm reports that Ben was attacked by four different knives, saying only that the post-mortem examination confirmed he had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Ben wrote about being knifed to death and forgiving the killer in a creative writing essay.
In the assignment, the GCSE student imagines what it would be like to die in a stabbing attack and reunited with already deceased loved ones.
He wrote: “The pavement feels so very cold on my so very punctured back. Everything feels cold. Numbness persists.
“As I stare up at my killer-to-be he feels not the slightest measure of remorse at what he has just committed.
“As my mind becomes inflamed with questions I slowly feel the pain pass over me like a shadow. Blood escapes my wounds.
“Blood once destined for greatness now seeps into the drains and the world beyond them. It all goes black.”
Later, he adds: “As I look around the table I see other familiar faces. Aunties and uncles, childhood friends, even people from the pub who I only said hello to.
“It’s just so pleasant. So wonderful.”
In his ending paragraphs, Ben even wrote how he did not feel anger towards his killer.
“And although this had happened to me, strangely, I don’t feel the slightest bit angry. I just feel free. Free from anger, worries, anguish and pain.
“In retrospect, I had this burning desire to hate the animal who took me away from life. Yet, although I don’t know why, I’d forgiven the murderer.”
