TV soap star Brooke Kinsella today paid an emotional tribute to her younger brother, the latest teen to be stabbed to death on London’s streets.
Ben Kinsella (16) was knifed in a north London street at around 2am yesterday and died later in hospital.
Detectives said the teenager might have been involved in an argument with a group of men in the street shortly beforehand.
"The full circumstances are still being investigated," Scotland Yard said in a statement. "We are keeping an open mind regarding the motive and are searching for the murder weapon or weapons."
They said they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the Shillibeers bar in Holloway at the time of the incident.
A tearful Miss Kinsella (24) who is best known for playing Kelly Taylor in the BBC soap opera
EastEnders, said: "Yesterday, we tragically lost not only a beautiful son and brother, but a true angel.
"He was one of the kindest and gentlest boys God created."
Referring to the 17 teenagers who have died violently in London this year, Ms Kinsella urged people to put down their knives and said: "Now it truly is the time to stand up and put an end to this."
British police released two 16-year-old boys on bail earlier today over the stabbing of Mr Kinsella.
The deaths of more than a dozen teenagers have prompted police to launch a campaign to crack down on knife crime in the capital with an increase in stop and search operations.
Newly-elected London Mayor Boris Johnson has also made tackling youth violence one of his priorities.