Photo: Tony Webster

A 16-year-old boy has been stabbed to death in a recreation ground in south-east London. Police found the injured teenager when they responded to reports of a disturbance in Home Park Recreation Ground in Sydenham on Wednesday evening.

The victim, who is yet to be named, died soon after being taken to hospital by the ambulance service, which says extensive efforts were made to treat him after it was established he had suffered a cardiac arrest. He was attended by an ambulance crew, duty officer and fast response car.

A number of youths have been arrested and detained in police custody.

Image: Tim Crook

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward and have opened an incident room operated by New Scotland Yard’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

It is understood they are keeping an open mind about the motive and circumstances of the death. The next steps in the enquiry require formal identification, confirmation that next of kin have been made aware of the tragedy, and the holding of a post mortem.