Zaian Aimable-Lina and floral tributes to him.
Floral tributes have been left for Zaian Aimable-Lina after Thursday’s incident in a Croydon park (Picture: SWNS)

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a stabbing in south London.

The teenager is accused of knifing Zaian Aimable-Lina, 15, through the heart in a Croydon park on Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police had previously announced that two 15-year-olds had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The suspect, who has not been named by the force because of his age, is due to appear before magistrates in Bromley, south London, on Tuesday.

He was arrested late on Saturday, January 1 and charged on Thursday.

Despite the best efforts of officers and later the London Ambulance Service, Zaian died at the scene of the attack in Ashburton Park shortly after 7.30pm.

That was within an hour of another teenager being stabbed to death in the capital.

The victim of a fatal stabbing in Croydon has been identified as Zaian Aimable-Lina.
Zaian died in Ashburton Park on Thursday, December 30 (Picture: SWNS)

The second victim, a 16-year-old boy fatally attacked in Yiewsley, west London, made 2021 the bloodiest year on record for teenage homicides in the capital, with 30 youngsters killed.

He is yet to be named, but a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday.

A post-mortem examination gave Zaian’s cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.

The other boy originally arrested on suspicion of his murder on Friday has been released under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call 020 8721 4622, or 101 quoting reference CAD 5443/30Dec.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.